Repeating Long Words

SKILL: Clear Speech

DIFFICULTY: 2/5

LEVELS: 4, based on syllable length, ranging from 2-5-syllable words

BRIEF RATIONALE: This treatment uses integral stimulation and pacing to say multi-syllabic words.

In Repeating Long Words, you will watch, listen, tap syllables, and say a multi-syllabic word with support. You will listen to your production and receive written sound-level feedback using speech recognition technology. The treatment auto-adjusts in difficulty based on performance.

SELF-SCORING OPTION: If speech recognition is not right for you or your patient (e. g., due to accent, background noise, or lack of a microphone), you may choose the self-scoring version of this treatment.

FOR THE CLINICIAN:

Repeating Long Words was designed with general apraxia principles in mind, such as:

1. Include meaningful and useful verbal communication
2. Control stimuli for length, and systematically increase it
3. Use a hierarchical arrangement beginning with the easiest and progressing

It is based on an articulatory-kinematic approach to apraxia therapy that includes:

• Modelling uses our Speech Entrainment Therapy Helper (SETH)
• Integral stimulation ("watch me, listen to me, and do what I do")
• Repeated practice in randomized order
• Feedback using speech recognition technology

It also incorporates a rhythmic pacing strategy (i.e., finger tapping), which can improve sound-production accuracy (Brendel & Ziegler, 2007; Mauszycki & Wambaugh, 2008) without targeting specific sounds.

Selected References:

1. Brendel, B., & Ziegler, W. (2007). Effectiveness of metrical pacing in the treatment of apraxia of Speech. Aphasiology, 22(1), 77–102.
2. Mauszycki, S. C., & Wambaugh, J. L. (2008). The effects of rate control treatment on consonant production accuracy in mild apraxia of speech. Aphasiology, 22(7–8), 906–920.
3. Munasinghe, T. U., Ariyasena, A. D., & Siriwardhana, D. D. (2023). Speech therapy interventions for acquired apraxia of speech: An updated systematic review. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 32(3), 1336–1359.
4. Rosenbek, J. C., Lemme, M. L., Ahern, M. B., Harris, E. H., & Wertz, R. T. (1973). A treatment for apraxia of speech in adults. Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders, 38(4), 462–472.