Premium
An evaluation of speech production in two boys with neurodevelopmental disorders who received communication intervention with a speech‐generating device
Author(s) -
Roche Laura,
Sigafoos Jeff,
Lancioni Giulio E.,
O'Reilly Mark F.,
Schlosser Ralf W.,
Stevens Michelle,
Meer Larah,
Achmadi Donna,
Kagohara Debora,
James Ruth,
Carnett Amarie,
Hodis Flaviu,
Green Vanessa A.,
Sutherland Dean,
Lang Russell,
Rispoli Mandy,
Machalicek Wendy,
Marschik Peter B.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
international journal of developmental neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.761
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1873-474X
pISSN - 0736-5748
DOI - 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2014.07.003
Subject(s) - intervention (counseling) , speech production , augmentative and alternative communication , generalization , psychology , audiology , natural (archaeology) , speech therapy , rehabilitation , speech recognition , medicine , computer science , neuroscience , biology , mathematical analysis , paleontology , mathematics , psychiatry
Background Children with neurodevelopmental disorders often present with little or no speech. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) aims to promote functional communication using non‐speech modes, but it might also influence natural speech production. Method To investigate this possibility, we provided AAC intervention to two boys with neurodevelopmental disorders and severe communication impairment. Intervention focused on teaching the boys to use a tablet computer‐based speech‐generating device (SGD) to request preferred stimuli. During SGD intervention, both boys began to utter relevant single words. In an effort to induce more speech, and investigate the relation between SGD availability and natural speech production, the SGD was removed during some requesting opportunities. Results With intervention, both participants learned to use the SGD to request preferred stimuli. After learning to use the SGD, both participants began to respond more frequently with natural speech when the SGD was removed. Conclusion The results suggest that a rehabilitation program involving initial SGD intervention, followed by subsequent withdrawal of the SGD, might increase the frequency of natural speech production in some children with neurodevelopmental disorders. This effect could be an example of response generalization.