Pitt AR, Osabuohien LW, Brady NC. Phonemic Feature Scoring as a Tool for Progress Monitoring During Language Interventions for Children With Autism and Minimal Verbal Skills.
Am J Speech Lang Pathol 2024;
33:676-692. [PMID:
38118455 PMCID:
PMC11001186 DOI:
10.1044/2023_ajslp-23-00201]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE
An increasing number of studies focus on verbal treatments for children with autism and minimal verbal skills. However, clinical tools for progress monitoring during interventions are lacking. The aim of this clinical focus article is to provide illustrations on the utility of a phonemic feature scoring system as a progress-monitoring tool, focusing on benefits and limitations as well as indications for use.
METHOD
Current practices for progress monitoring during language interventions with children with autism and minimal verbal skills are reviewed. A phonemic feature scoring tool is provided to aid clinicians in assessing the accuracy and consistency of expressive word productions. The authors illustrate the use of phonemic feature scoring as a progress-monitoring tool for two children with autism and minimal verbal skills, contrasting the phonemic feature scoring system to correct/incorrect, phoneme-level, and whole-word scoring.
RESULTS
Case 1 demonstrates a scenario where the child's speech intelligibility is low and clinical use of the phonemic feature scoring system captures discrete changes in speech production progress not represented by correct/incorrect, phoneme-level, and whole-word scoring. However, Case 2 represents a situation where once a child's speech intelligibility improves, the phonemic feature scoring system is no longer needed, and correct/incorrect scoring may be sufficient.
CONCLUSION
The phonemic feature scoring system allows clinicians to track phonemic feature changes in word productions and provides detailed progress monitoring information, leading to adaptations of the intervention for each individual.
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