As a practitioner in the field of speech therapy, you are always looking for ways to enhance your techniques and improve outcomes for your students. One intriguing area of research that can offer valuable insights is the transfer of articulation training across different morphological contexts. The study titled Transfer of Articulation Training Across Morphological Contexts: A Brief Report by Holdgrafer, Kohn, and Williams provides a compelling look into this phenomenon.
In this study, three children with misarticulations of the /s/ and /z/ phonemes were trained to correctly produce these sounds in the final position of nonsense word nouns. The research aimed to assess whether this training would transfer to English noun and nonsense plural, possessive, and third-person singular present verb tense contexts. The results varied among the subjects, providing key insights into the efficiency of training these phonemes.
Key Takeaways for Practitioners
Here are some practical takeaways from the study that you can implement in your own practice:
- Focus on Final Position Training: The study suggests that training the /s/ and /z/ phonemes in the final position may be more efficient than starting with the initial position. This approach could potentially lead to quicker and more widespread improvements in articulation.
- Consider Co-Articulation Effects: The results highlighted the role of co-articulation in the transfer of articulation training. For example, one subject showed better transfer for /s/ in simpler CVC structures compared to more complex clusters. Being mindful of these effects can help you tailor your training to each child's needs.
- Utilize Morphological Contexts: While the study didn't directly train articulation in morphological contexts, it suggested that doing so could enhance the carryover of correct articulation to natural speaking situations. This could be a valuable addition to your training repertoire.
- Individual Differences Matter: The study found significant individual differences in how children responded to training. This underscores the importance of personalized approaches and continuous assessment to determine the most effective strategies for each child.
Encouraging Further Research
While the study provides valuable insights, it also opens the door for further research. Practitioners are encouraged to explore the following areas:
- Broader Phoneme Sets: Investigate whether the findings hold true for other phonemes beyond /s/ and /z/.
- Longitudinal Studies: Conduct long-term studies to assess the sustainability of the transfer effects observed in short-term training.
- Integration with Language Training: Explore the potential benefits of integrating articulation training with broader language training programs.
By staying informed and continually seeking to improve your methods, you can make a significant impact on the communication skills of your students. To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Transfer of Articulation Training Across Morphological Contexts: A Brief Report.
