Correct Sound Placement; Connect the Dots

Remember dot to dot drawings?  The SmartPalate speech therapy might be as simple as that!

See the dot to dot connection for correct /r/ placement (yes two right triangles).  How did my client's tongue know how to make two right triangles?  Your tongue is amazing, it will adapt to where it's suppose to because we are visual learners with mirror neurons. We want to match with what we see.

It's not new science, it's proven science that we do best with "multi-modality learning"
We learn, retain and recall  better with "hearing, seeing and doing." 
With traditional therapy, the student can't see inside the therapist's mouth to match what their tongue is doing.   But now with the "SmartPalate" system, the client can see what the instructor does and match their "dot" placement better.   Kids and adults love it!

 Female, age 10,  Consistent correct /r/ placement after 2 sessions
 Consistent correct sound and placement after 5 sessions in sentences.
 Below is a sample video of Millie teaching me how she does her homework to generalize her good /r/.

Many children struggle to get in their R sound completely correct.  Here is one way to help them to generalize. I learned this lesson from my client.  How great is that. First we will show you with the Smart Palate then without the mouthpiece.

April; Teaching Syllables for kids with apraxia

I use Visual Phonics (hand gestures) for those needing extra visual cues.
See how I teach basic syllables with "m" as the consonant rotating through vowels.
First video with visual phonics, the second video just showing letters/sounds.
You can purchase Visual Phonics DVD and visual guide booklet at Brigham Young University, author ComD.  Total cost is approx $15.00

WELCOME TO 2013!

I HOPE YOUR BLOG BROWSING WILL BE ENJOYABLE!

FREE CONSULTATION (form)

Phone; 801-372-4383, 
Email: adorais159@gmail.com

Free Speech Worksheets

I LOVE good shopping alerts, and "FREE" SPEECH HANDOUTS"
Once in a while you run across a person who has done tons of work to make worksheets for therapists and parents.  Here is that good website This site has lots of other good information.
check out Heather's Free Speech Worksheets   I sure you will enjoy this website as much as I do.

SmartPlate System Demo

Here is a nice short informative Demo on the SmartPalate System.
.Speech Demo
Or cut and paste link below into your web browser.
 https://www.dropbox.com/s/5zd03uoyiiq4g94/Complete%20Speech%20Commercial.mp4

Therapy Handout Website

 I will highlight speech-language websites once in a while for parents and therapists.  This website has great therapy materials for homework materials and lots of knowledge materials.
Today's featured website is by Judith Kuster's Net Connections for Communication Disorders and Sciences (www.communicationdisorders.com); This takes you directly to the various topics that may be important to you.  http://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/kuster2/sptherapy.html?goback=.gde_1554647_member_149727478

Seven Best Tips for Speech Therapy; Using the SmartPalate System

Here is a culmination of therapy tips from holding 4 years of Summer Intensive Speech Therapy. These tips are sure to help any therapist and child using the "SmartPalate" system.  (For Therapist's mostly, but parents are welcome to read on). To get theses tips in full detail, click on the title.

1. To get best results, teach children to "relax" from the beginning.

2. Use "mirrors" to help the child watch his lips, tongue tip and jaws during the session and at home.


3. Don't forget to emphasize good forward AIR flow! 

4. Practice the correct approach to the word at different rates. 

5.  Once the "R" was fairly intact; I had them practice the "r" syllable in contrast, correctly and incorrectly


6. Practice with and without the "smartpalate" mouthpiece across linguistic complexity.

7. Allow child to practice for 3-5 minutes on their own, without your feedback. 


You are welcome to email me if you have any questions about these tips using the "SmartPalate" System at adorais159@gmail.com

Syllables using the SmartPalate

Children often improve their target sound production when words are easy using the smartpalate, but as words get more complex it's harder to accurately produce the words.
Longer syllable words can often cause a child to compromise the clarity of the word as he trys to complete the word.  He might leave off unstressed syllables, or reduce the vowels, or blur the parts together.
Here is one fun example of how to use objects to support syllable production while watching the palatometer display to point out to the child that he can still make proper tongue-palate contact and sound.  You could also record the child talking and play it back for him to review.

Therapy in Small Group or Pairs

The "smart therapy" model.  Two students with one therapist with the palatometer technology.  It's proving to be highly successful to work in pairs. Family and friend therapy pairs. Lots of benefits for the students; more therapy time, peer feedback, and fun drill-game format with two. Generalizing motor-learning faster.