This highly effective approach builds intelligibility through a hierarchy of successive “word shell” approximations based on least physiological effort of target words. The clinician also is able to introduce more complex phoneme patterns as the child’s ability improves, thus maintaining the child’s ability to speak at his or her maximum level.

Kit 2 refines intelligibility for children who have mastered sounds in Kaufman Kit 1 (p, b, m, t, d, n, h, w). Advanced level Kit 2 then works to refine articulation and build higher motor-speech coordination. Kit 2 uses familiar two and three-syllable words to target more complicated motor-speech movements and synthesis into initial and final word positions. Kit 2 targets synthesis of /f, g, k, l, s, sh/ and blends /s, r, l/ plus ber and ter.

Published by Northern Speech Services.

This highly effective approach builds intelligibility through a hierarchy of successive “word shell” approximations based on least physiological effort of target words. The clinician also is able to introduce more complex phoneme patterns as the child’s ability improves, thus maintaining the child’s ability to speak at his or her maximum level.

Kit 1 teaches children to combine consonants and vowels to form words while controlling for oral-motor difficulty. The 225 visual referent cards were selected specifically to target and teach the syllable shapes children need to master to become effective vocal/verbal communicators. Treatment methods employ a systematic and progressive approach of simplifying word pronunciation patterns to shape and expand verbal expression and make communication easier for children with childhood apraxia of speech and other speech sound disorders.

Published by Northern Speech Services.

Nancy Kaufman, MA, CCC-SLP, director of the Kaufman Children's Center, demonstrates how to get the most out of half-hour therapy sessions using her K-SLP techniques.

Nancy entices Avery to participate using favorite toys are reinforcers. Also featured: early imitation of the K-SLP Kit 1 simple syllable shapes.

In this segment, Nancy demonstrates scripting functional language using pivot phrases, and emphasizes putting two simple syllables together using cues.

In this segment, Nancy will continue to work on syllable shapes and fading cues so Avery will be able to progress to naming on her own.

In this segment, Nancy will work on breaking assimilations on two-syllable words and the use of pivot syllables.

In this segment, more work with pivot syllables as well as naming common objects with cues and naming object function. Avery practices using a notebook of words personalized for her by Nancy.

In this segment, Nancy and Avery practice with the K-SLP Workout Book.

In this segment, Nancy and Avery will use familiar characters as subjects in subject-verb-object phrases.

In this segment, Nancy uses people and family figurines as subjects to help Avery with naming action in three-word phrases.

Emmett visited the Kaufman Children’s Center for the Speech Praxis Experience at Kaufman (SPEAK), a four-day intensive program with Nancy Kaufman, MA, CCC-SLP. At the heart of SPEAK is the Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol (K-SLP), an evidenced-based evaluation and treatment method for childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), other speech-sound disorders, and expressive language development.

Emmett is a 4.6-year-old with CAS who was originally viewed via a video sent by his parents to determine his suitability for the K-SLP. While he was at the KCC, he experienced a full evaluation and eight half-hour sessions of therapy. The program also included parent coaching and a half-hour exit conference to overview the visit and answer parent questions. Each of Emmett’s sessions were recorded to share with his home speech-language pathology team. Nancy also does some narration regarding the techniques on video as well. (Check below for links to more information on the K-SLP, video consultations, and the SPEAK program.)

This video includes an introduction with Nancy about Emmett’s background and techniques to watch for in the therapy portion of the video. They include:

• Establishing motivation with highly preferred toys
• Using highly preferred toys strategically for reinforcement
• Focusing on single-word lists (syllable shapes
• Auditory and visual cues
• Blocked practice (as Emmett is an early learner) to move on to mixing and varying speech-motor tasks for retention
• Rescripted attempts at communication
• Gaining as many responses as possible within the session
• Implementing errorless teaching
• Error correction to help Emmett to be successful
• Gaining expressive language with pivot phrases
• Parent coaching for carryover at home

Nancy Kaufman was recently a featured speaker for the SETBP1 Virtual Family Conference. The event was presented by the SETBP1 Society, a group of parents driven to find answers related to their children’s shared genetic mutation.

SETBP1 is a rare condition and researchers are working to gain more information about the population, especially relating to speech and language challenges.

Nancy used her Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol (K-SLP) methods to work with a family who recently learned their child had SETBP1 mutation and consulted on the case of another. Both boys exhibited characteristics of childhood apraxia of speech (CAS).

CAS is a communication disorder that causes difficulty executing and sequencing oral motor movements to produce and combine consonants and vowels. Children are also challenged to maintain the motor plans of words that lead to development of intelligible speech.

It was a coincidence that these two boys both benefited from the K-SLP methods and have become effective vocal communicators. Their moms asked Nancy within days of each other to speak during the second annual online conference, which featured speakers connecting in remotely. She was honored and excited by their requests.

Nancy presented Childhood Apraxia of Speech and Other Communication Disorders in SETBP1. Both boys were featured demonstrating their progress from simple consonant and vowel combinations to effective vocal communication. Other children treated by Nancy who have not been diagnosed with SETBP1 were included in the presentation to demonstrate some strategies that we implement at the Kaufman Children’s Center for those who are minimally vocal.

Click below to watch Nancy’s full presentation. Due to time constraints, a few of her videos couldn’t be shown in their entirety during the recording of the conference and can also be accessed below.