History of Speech Language Pathology Archives - Page 2 of 4

Tag: History of Speech Language Pathology

The King’s Speech was Dysarthric, Too

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…

Articulation Therapy In the Public Schools

By Pam Marshalla

This opinion paper was originally posted as a downloadable PDF on my website, authored in September, 2010. Download the original PDF here. *** Articulation Therapy In the Public Schools Some of today’s public schools are trying to eliminate articulation therapy for mild cases from their school programs because it is believed that these errors do not impact education. However, throughout the history of western civilization, there have been three ways to measure ones level of intelligence and success in education. These…

Finding Old Speech-Language Textbooks

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…

Tongue Bowl Reflex (History and Definitions)

By Pam Marshalla

Q: I have been reading some of your material, and I am wondering if you can tell me where the term “Tongue Bowl Reflex” comes from? I made up the term Tongue Bowl Reflex and Tongue Bowl Response. In the 1970’s, the term “tongue bowl” was floating around among therapists who were involved in feeding, dysphagia, and oral-motor. I knew that the tongue bowl was a reflex from various readings I was doing, and I realized that no one had…

Background on the “L-to-R Slide” Method

By Pam Marshalla

Q: I am a college student and am doing a group report. We would like to discuss your “L-to-R Slide” technique. In order to do that we need an article that discusses it. Can you guide me to one? Before I answer your question, let me pose a philosophical question to you and to my broader reading audience: Why are individual articles that summarize one single study always considered superior to the writings of master clinicians who write practical manuals…

Uncertainty About Evidence

By Pam Marshalla

Q: I still am uncertain about evidence in therapy. According to you, laboratory research is not the only place from which evidence comes. How can this be? I am confused. This is not what I was taught. The originators of the term “evidence-based practice” wrote their whole book to say that health practitioners need evidence to support what they do; however, evidence could not come exclusively from laboratory research. They wrote: “External clinical evidence [i.e., laboratory research] can inform, but…

The Gopher’s Whistled S

By Pam Marshalla

Q: What does an SLP call a distorted /s/ phoneme that whistles, like the gopher in Winnie-the-Pooh? Is it considered a lisp? The term “lisp” has gone through many changes throughout the centuries, and it depends upon whom you read as to what it means. In the 1800’s, some writers used the term “lisp” to refer to any problems with the sibilants. Others used the term to mean any and all speech deficits, including all problems of voice, resonance, prosody,…

Banned from Pam Marshalla’s Seminars

By Pam Marshalla

Q: I am a CFY and my supervisor will not let me attend your seminars because she says that you teach oral-motor techniques for which there is no proof. I need help with the lateral lisp and the distorted R. What can I tell her to convince her to let me go? First of all, what right does your supervisor have to determine which continuing education seminars you can and cannot attend? Why are you giving her this power over…

Sloppy Speech

By Pam Marshalla

Q: My preschool client can produce all the consonants and vowels, but his speech is somewhat unintelligible at times. I seem to be working on just general enunciation. Is this correct? Should I be doing more? Yes! You are on the right track. Teach him to enunciate. This is the essence of therapy at this level, and it applies to all clients of all ages and ability levels. This is part of what I call “Lessons from the Elocutionists”. Teach…

Normative Data and Enrollment

By Pam Marshalla

Q: It seems that every SLP has a different opinion on phoneme development and the age at which sounds should be treated. For example, some SLP’s work on R at age 6 while others wait until clients are age 7 or 8. What is your opinion on sound development? I have been re-studying the developmental articulation norms for the past two years in preparation for my next book, and I have to admit the data is all over the place….