TREATMENT OF CHILDHOOD APRAXIA OF SPEECH: A SINGLE-CASE EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN STUDY OF INTENSITY OF TREATMENT

Abstract

Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is a pediatric motor-speech disorder which has been controversial due to its difficulty to diagnose and little progress in treatment. The purpose of the present study was to examine a principle of motor learning (PML) within the context of an evidence-based treatment for this disorder, as a way to improve outcomes for children with CAS. In particular, this study examines the role of intensity, specifically, massed versus distributed practice, when treating CAS using a modified form of Dynamic Temporal Tactile Cueing (DTTC; Strand et al., 2006). Two participants with CAS between the ages of 5 and 11 received massed and distributed practice on individualized targets in an single-case alternating treatments design with multiple baselines. Accuracy of speech targets on probe tasks was judged by blinded listeners. Results were interpreted through inspection of graphs and calculation of effect sizes. The results of the study showed that massed practice had a marginal benefit over distributed practice. Implications from this study suggest the importance of continued research examining the role of PML in CAS treatment and the value of using a massed-treatment approach when treating CAS.