By Pam Marshalla
Q: My two-year-old son has dysarthria. We have been practicing his target words 100 times every day at home, but when he goes to speech sessions, his SLP only has him practice his words a few times. Can you comment on this? I don’t think she is working him hard enough. Drill has its place, but he is only 2 years old! You are giving him more practice than just about any toddler could handle. You do not want him…
By Pam Marshalla
Q: Your Vowel Tracks program was great and the child I am writing about now has all his vowels. His language is improving but most staff cannot understand him because his prosody is drawling, singsong-ish, and inflection is always up at the end of each statement like a question. Any thoughts about how to approach this? The interesting thing about this rising intonation pattern used on statements is that I hear many young people use this today. They say things…
By Pam Marshalla
Q: My client has cerebral palsy. His articulation is really good but he is dysfluent. Can you help me? I am sorry, but I am completely unqualified to answer any questions about fluency.
By Pam Marshalla
Q: How often do you see your clients? I always set once per week as my “must have” level. That is unless they are only on consult, follow-up, or the later stages of carryover. Over 35 years, I have found that once per week is sufficient for most kids, both the easy kids and the low functioning ones. Easy kids can do perfectly well with once per week, and low functioning clients do not move fast enough to warrant more…
By Pam Marshalla
This opinion paper was originally posted as a downloadable PDF on my website, authored in mid- 2011. Download the original PDF here. *** Carryover Techniques The term carryover refers to a client’s ability to take an individual speech skill learned in the therapy room and to apply it broadly in all speaking situations. The following is an outline of the techniques presented in: Marshalla, P. (2010) Carryover Techniques in Articulation and Phonological Therapy. Mill Creek, WA: Marshalla Speech and Language. www.pammarshalla.com…
By Pam Marshalla
Q: We are wondering about hygiene and the use of tools in articulation therapy. What are the practices you use to keep your multiple-use tools sanitary from client to client? Guidelines Adhere to the following sanitary guidelines when handling objects that are used in, on, or around the mouth: Wood, paper, cardboard, sponge, cotton, leather, or hemp objects should be used once and then discarded. Dental floss also should be used once and then discarded. Plastic, rubber, vinyl, metal, and…
By Pam Marshalla
This opinion paper was originally posted as a downloadable PDF on my website, authored on April 29th, 2011. Download the original PDF here. *** The King’s Speech was Dysarthric, Too An analysis of treatment procedures reveals that fluency was not the only issue Discussions of the Oscar winning movie, The King’s Speech, have focused on the problem of stuttering and its impact on communication. This certainly has been a boon to our profession and a help to public understanding of this…
By Pam Marshalla
Q: In your writing and seminars you always reference the ways in which traditional therapists like Van Riper and others worked. I know how to find old articles on-line through ASHA’s archives. But how do you find all the old textbooks you mention? Excellent question! As the saying goes: It is only by understanding our past that we can understand our present and future. Understanding the work of past therapists puts today’s practices into perspective, and it helps us analyze…
By Pam Marshalla
Q: Could you give me specifics on what to avoid when doing oral motor work with children who have seizures? Of course, stopping treatment during the seizure and giving recovery time is essential. Anything else? In regard to seizures and oral-motor activities: Stop treatment activities during seizures Avoid treatment activities that seem to cause seizures Allow the recovery time that the child needs to re-focus and process Avoid treatment activities that cause or contribute to fatigue
By Pam Marshalla
Q: I wanted to order some resources for the B-3 population and was wondering which of your products you recommend. The following materials of mine are useful for B-3 population. Please read about them in our online catalog. Becoming Verbal with Childhood Apraxia The Seven Stages of Phoneme Development Improving Intelligibility with Childhood Apraxia How to Stop Drooling How to Stop Thumbsucking Vowel Tracks Do You Like Pie?
