Kaufman Children's Center Cyndi Davis, Author at Kaufman Children's Center • Page 2 of 16

There are many children with autism spectrum disorders who are not vocal verbal communicators. It is difficult to determine whether or not CAS is the causal factor. Nevertheless, best practices for CAS are also best practices for these children. Very often, however, the child may not clearly understand the task of producing isolated vowels and consonants. They may not yet be able to imitate behavior in general.

Here are specific methods that have been developed by speech-language pathologists and others to help this special population.

Created by Nancy Kaufman and Tamara Kasper, K&K Sign/Select to Talk builds communication and speech in autistic individuals and others with complex communication needs. It is designed specifically for learners and their treatment teams who use multimodal communication to teach requesting with unaided AAC systems (gestures or signs) or with aided AAC systems (picture exchange or speech generating devices). Concurrent with AAC instruction, this approach uses Kaufman K-SLP successive word approximations to improve the functional clarity of verbal vocal production of the items and actions being requested.

Includes over 200 vocabulary cards representing everyday foods, drinks, toys, and activities that learners frequently request and find motivating.
Vocabulary items were selected to meet the unique generalization and motivational needs of autistic individuals.
Each target item or action is represented by an engaging photograph on a large, glossy 5"x7" card.
Photographs were selected for iconicity and to aid in transfer of skills across different language functions.
The reverse side of each card features Kaufman "word shell" successive approximations to assist in improving verbal vocal production.
Also included is a description of the sign (ASL) for that target item with pictures of the hand shapes.
The accompanying 50-page manual fully explains this approach.

Ages 2 to 12 years.

Published by Northern Speech Services.

The K-SLP treatment materials began with the Kaufman Speech Praxis Test, through which SLPs can take data through imitation of which vowels, consonants, and syllable shapes are within the child’s repertoire, and to provide a systematic plan of care.

The additional materials help those with CAS combine vowels and consonants to form the simple syllable shapes, and progress on to more complex words and to combine words to formulate expressive language for effective vocal/verbal communication.

Speech Praxis Test

KSPT aids in the diagnosis and treatment of childhood apraxia of speech

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Treatment Kit 1

Teaches children to combine consonants and vowels to form words

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Treatment Kit 2

Refines intelligibility for children who have mastered sounds in Kaufman Kit 1

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Workout Book

After the kits, the workout book expands single words into phrases and sentences

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K&K Sign/Select to Talk

Selecting and shaping vocal language for complex communication needs

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Childhood apraxia of speech requires specific treatment techniques for successful outcomes. Many teaching strategies of applied behavior analysis (ABA) and more specifically, applied verbal behavior (AVB) are aligned with the most current research in CAS. Combined with the principles of motor learning, they provide an effective framework for solid clinical practice to help those with CAS to become effective vocal communicators.

The K-SLP methods follow these best practices and are implemented here at KCC.

Clearly define the behavior that is desired to be established, improved upon, or extinguished.

In this case, it would be to establish vowels and consonants that are not within the child’s repertoire, establish the combinations of vowels and consonants to create syllable shapes/words, or establish the ability to connect words and move into grammatical skills.

Behaviors to extinguish might include the child erroneously adding a schwa “uh” post final consonants. The child might be adding erroneous vowels, consonants, or syllables to words. They also may use filler non-speech vocalizations rather than the new skills that they have developed, to name a few.

Understand how to shape successive approximations of words toward the ultimate goal of perfect articulation.

Many children are not stimulable for the consonants and vowels that are contained in words that are important for them to learn. They will need compensatory placements for some (an easier way to produce complicated consonants or vowels), and simplification of the motor plan for others.

This is where phonological processes are implemented to simplify the motor plan and shape toward the target.

This 6-hour online course focuses on evaluation and treatment strategies for childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) using the Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol methods.

The presentation includes signs and symptoms of CAS, establishing motivation, shaping word approximations, implementing and fading cues, reinforcement strategies, data collection, scripting functional expressive language, coaching parents, and practicing skills in the natural environment. Also discussed is implementing the principles of motor learning for practice schedules, and how to move from the acquisition stage to the retention stage of learning to be an effective vocal communicator.

The methods, strategies, and techniques presented in this course follow the most current research in CAS and provide clinicians with the information they need to help children progress from a simple core vocabulary to phrases and eventually to sentences and conversational speech. Therapy session videos are shown throughout the presentation to enhance the learning experience.

Focus is on children ages 2-6 years. Offered for 0.6 ASHA CEUs.

COURSE AVAILABLE FROM NORTHERN SPEECH SERVICES

The competency course combines Nancy Kaufman's 6-hour K-SLP overview with three new expert-level courses on the following subjects:

Strategic selection of practice words and phrases in childhood apraxia of speech
Framing techniques to achieve clinical excellence in CAS therapy
Clinical mistakes in the treatment of CAS and what to consider instead

Clinicians who successfully complete this course will demonstrate proficiency in the K-SLP, which is the most-used method for CAS treatment in the United States.

Offered for 1.0 ASHA CEU (10 hours of content)

COURSE AVAILABLE FROM NORTHERN SPEECH SERVICES

Children with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) require cues to help them to remember the upcoming consonants, vowels, and syllables of practice words. They also often need help to combine words to formulate phrases and sentences by following scripts that they can retain and implement spontaneously.

This webinar will overview how cues and scripts can assist children with CAS to become successful vocal communicators. Cueing and scripting techniques will be overviewed and presented via video.

COURSE AVAILABLE FROM APRAXIA KIDS

It is often difficult to motivate children with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) to practice at home or even to cooperate within a therapy session. This webinar will offer suggestions to maximize practice through play.

Parents and caregivers are coached to pair themselves with fun toys and activities, making the speech and language practice activities highly preferred, exciting and successful.
Therapy materials are implemented as well, though paired with play activity.
Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol (K-SLP) methods of cueing motor-speech and scripting functional expressive language to include the language of toys and games will be emphasized.
Fading cues and scripts as well as teaching successive approximations toward target words and phrases is taught.

COURSE AVAILABLE FROM APRAXIA KIDS

COURSE AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE

Preparation: Setting up the virtual meeting, inviting all participants, and sending Nancy the link where she can join the meeting and share her screen. There is to be absolutely no recording of the presentation without Nancy Kaufman’s prior and explicit permission.

Tech support: Facilitating any additional meeting-related tech support that may arise before and during the presentation. A meeting to test technology is required prior to the course.

Continuing education: Arraigning for and managing any CEUs credits for participants.

The Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol (K-SLP) evaluation and treatment approach will be demonstrated. Elements of shaping word approximations to simplify the difficult motor plan of words, the use of natural phonological processes in therapy, and cueing and scripting systems will be highlighted via video. The K-SLP is rooted in the teaching strategies of applied behavior analysis (ABA) and motor learning principles regarding practice schedules, feedback, and retention of skills. This effective method for children with apraxia of speech will be shared in a functional manner, with many tips and suggestions clinicians and parents can use immediately.

Children who may have an adequate repertoire of consonants and vowels in isolation may not be able to coordinate the oral motor movements necessary to produce and combine these phonemes to form syllables, words, phrases, and sentences on volitional control. These children may be unable to speak or may be unintelligible speakers. They may even have difficulty executing the oral motor movements necessary to produce isolated phonemes. These are the children who can benefit from the techniques taught in this course.

This clinical presentation will focus on evaluation and treatment strategies for CAS with the K-SLP methods. It will include defining CAS, establishing motivation, using reinforcement, implementing and fading cues, and scripting functional expressive language. It will also include implementing the principles of motor learning for practice schedules, and how to move from the acquisition stage to the retention stage of learning to be an effective vocal communicator.

The methods, strategies, and techniques presented in this program follow the most current research in CAS and will provide clinicians with the information they need to help children with CAS progress from a simple core vocabulary to phrases and eventually to sentences and conversational speech. In addition, treatment videos will be used to enhance the learning experience. The main focus will be children ages 2-6 years.

By the end of the course, participants should be able to:

Understand and analyze a norm-referenced, standardized test which relates directly to the K-SLP approach, to identify this unique population of children.
Use evaluation information to establish goals for single words and phrases.
Implement a specific treatment approach using phonological processes to simplify the motor plans for CAS.
Provide five lists of single words to target in therapy.
List principles of motor learning for the acquisition vs the retention stages of learning.
Explain the importance of mixing and varying tasks/blocked vs random practice.

K-SLP & Autism Spectrum Disorder

Methods that act as a bridge to vocal communication

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K&K Sign/Select to Talk

Selecting and shaping vocal language for complex communication needs

Additional K-SLP materials

K-SLP Test & Materials

K-SLP products, video demonstrations, and where to buy

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Speech Praxis Test

Treatment Kit 1

Treatment Kit 2

Workout Book

K&K Sign/Select to Talk

K-SLP Teaching Strategies

Combining principles of applied behavior analysis and motor learning

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Notes from Nancy

Clinical speech and language collaborations

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Online Courses with Nancy Kaufman

Learn K-SLP methods with courses you can complete at your own pace

Questions

Live Courses with Nancy Kaufman

Virtual courses for current professionals and professionals of tomorrow

K-SLP Course for Professional Groups

Clinical & CAS Course for Students

Clinical & CAS Course for Students

Available to tomorrow's SLPs in undergrad and master's programs

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K-SLP Course for Professional Groups

Available to clinics, schools, and other speech and language organizations

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Planning Your Trip to the KCC

SPEAK Program

Video Consultation

Questions