Stimulability – The Foundation for Success.
In the world of Speech Pathology, stimulability is a key concept. It is one of the first things a Speech-Language Pathologist will look for once identifying the existence of a misarticulation. So what is stimulability? It is simply the client demonstrating the ability to accurately produce a target sound when given a model for that sound. Stimulability is typically achieved at the sound level first but can be identified at each of the sound production levels leading up to conversation. These include the syllable level, double syllable level, word and sentence levels. Once a sound is identified as being stimulable, it signals to the SLP that this sound may be ready to be targeted specifically to be developed through the levels into conversation. Stimulable sounds display a readiness for therapy.
The extent to which a sound is stimulable is a key factor in target selection. I would not necessarily choose the most stimulable target as my therapy target. For instance a sound which is stimulable in sentence level drills with multiple target sounds in multiple positions, I may choose to overlook. A sound at this level is on the verge of emerging into conversation and I may choose to monitor this sound while choosing a lesser stimulable target to focus on.
Early on in my career as a Speech Pathologist I imagined I would be spending the majority of my time developing stimulability in clients. I was amazed that this simply was not the case. Clients with multiple speech errors usually had a mix of stimulable and non stimulable sounds. Quite often when working on the stimulable targets, the non stimulable sounds would develop stimulability on their own. In the instances of having no sounds that are stimulable, it usually does not take multiple sessions to develop stimulability. I have encountered sounds that were highly resistant to developing stimulability but these cases have always been the exception. I strongly believe that once a client becomes stimulable for a sound it is simply a matter of doing the work to get the sound to ultimately emerge into conversation.
I have put together a training video covering the concept of stimulability. This video also provides some techniques to develop stimulability of the /s/ sound as well. I am very pleased with the production quality considering this is our first video offering. I encourage you to leave questions and comments. I am here to serve you.
Marcus Little
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc8jEvC7jHs
Tags: Articulation Therapy, articulation therapy video, mini course, ound stimulability, s targets, s therapy, Speech therapy, speech therapy video, training video
Thank you Mr. Little for the excellent resource! My daughter has a lisp, and we found this video to be very helpful.
I hope that you will be doing more videos soon. It was so helpful to be able to see the techniques.
I appreciate the information you provided. My son has a lipse and broke down after his sister made fun of him. He’s 12 and rarely cries. I promised him I would do everything in my power to help him and your site was here to save the day.
Hi Wendy,
I am happy you found the information helpful. If your son is stimulable at the sound level then work through the work sheets for /s/ found in the December Blog post. Follow the therapy pathway as outlined in the course you need the “password” for. I am here to answer any questions you may have and to help you over any of the hurdles.
Yours in making a difference,
Marcus
Hi Marcus I an interested in articualtion, I have a student that I am working with that is having a hard time with pronoucation. At time she will shut down because of the way she speaks. Please help me to help her it's so sad to see a bright child shuts up in her cacoon. What are the nescessary steps that I can take?.
Thanks in advance
MARIE
Hi Marie,
The best first step you can take is to try and find a SLP to assess and treat the child. If that is not an option than your next best bet is educate yourself to help the situation (which you are doing). Try the following:
1. download the 18 best tips for developing speech sounds. It can be found here: http://www.thespeechpathway.com/tips/
2. Identify which sounds are in error.
3. Identify if errored sounds are stimulable.
4. Watch 12 minute ecourse found by clicking on links in Tip one.
5. Continue to ask questions when you get stuck.
Let me know what sounds are in error and give me an example of what they are saying and I will be better able to advise you.
Thanks Marie
Hi Marcus,
I'm a speech therapist and am having a hard time with working on sounds at the conversation level. Any suggestions to help with this last hurdle towards graduation? My students are in the 3rd grade.
Thank you so much,
Mona
Hi Mona,
Success in conversation is a result of having a solid foundation in the early levels such as syllable and double syllable level drills. I used to get stuck for extended periods of time waiting for clients to achieve sounds in conversation. My problem was I would start working on word and sentence level drills wayyyyyyy toearly. If you want carryover in conversation, make sure you have mastery of double syllables going “quickly”. Consider how rapid the articulator movements are when you are speaking. All occuring without you having to think about it. Developing rapid automatic transitions is critical. Try this test with your client. Have them say a target word 5 times rapidly (a touch slower then your fastest productions). How much do they struggle. Keep slowing it down until they can do word 5 x row fast. If you develop a foundation for speed all things will fall into place. Let me know how you make out. I am here to help.
Mr. Little has worked with my son for years with speech. He is one of the best speech pathologists around!