NEWSLETTER #5: NONWORDS

The SATPAC Speech monthly newsletter continues with helpful tips for remediation of articulation/phonology disorders. If you missed previous newsletters, they are on my website: https://satpac.com/newsletter.

This issue of the newsletter will focus on an important element of my approach which is the use of nonwords. The SATPAC Approach is based on the idea that when we as SLPs work to remediate sounds/phonological processes, the therapy should be as close to conversational speech as possible and to include the elements that we use in conversational speech (i.e., coarticulation, normal rate, natural prosody, etc.). It also includes some best practices and the use of nonwords is one of these.
Gierut, Morrisette and Ziemer (2010) demonstrated that nonwords induced greater, more rapid system-wide generalization as a function of treatment than did real words.

SATPAC uses facilitating context nonwords at the beginning to develop a consistent motor pattern with the idea that quickly developing a consistent motor pattern will lead more quickly into successful conversational speech. For /s/, the word beetseet is often used.

There are 3 phases in the program. In the Establishment Phase, the /s/ sound is used in only one context (beetseet) through 7 different steps (e.g. emphasis on the non-target syllable, emphasis on the target syllable, phrases, sentences, etc.). In the Practice Phase, the /s/ sound is used in many contexts but vary systematically. Using the place/manner chart and the vowel circle, nonwords are used which move slightly away from the previous word. List 1 of the Practice Phase goes like this: beetseet, mitseet, weitseet, fetseet, vatseet, tutseet, dotseet, etc. Note how the initial consonants are moving from the front of the mouth toward the back. And you can see how the vowels are moving from front closed to open and eventually to the back. The purpose is to make minimal changes from word to word and to develop this consistent motor pattern using -tseet. Eventually as the students progress through the lists, they will be able to say the /s/ sound in any context. The Generalization/Transfer Phase uses real word phrases, sentences and conversation.

The quickest way to normal conversation is through systemic use of nonwords!

Stephen Sacks
SATPAC Speech

To see details about /r/ and /s/ remediation and more information about my approach, I offer free ASHA CEUs on my website www.satpac.com or you are welcome to just watch the presentation.