The Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol

The method at the heart of the KCC's speech-language programs

The Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol (K-SLP) is the method at the heart of all of the KCC’s speech and language programs. It is a treatment approach for children with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), other speech sound disorders, and expressive language challenges. The K-SLP focuses upon the child’s speech-motor skills, shaping the consonants, vowels and syllable shapes/gestures from what they are capable of producing toward higher levels of speech-motor coordination, giving them a functional avenue by which to become an effective vocal communicator.

See "more information" for much more on the Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol.

More Information:

Click below for details on the Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol.

The K-SLP Method

Video Consultations with Nancy Kaufman

Personal feedback for families living out of the state and country

Nancy Kaufman, MA, CCC-SLP would love to meet and evaluate your child in person, but that is often difficult for families who live a great distance from the KCC. Instead, she invites you to submit a video of your child, preferably in a treatment session, for an informal consultation.

How to receive a video consultation:

  1. Record video of your child in treatment sessions, or ask their SLP for clips
  2. Upload your clips to YouTube or Dropbox
  3. Click the 'submit information' link on this page and provide information about your child
  4. At the end of the form, enter the links to your videos and pay the fee
  5. Nancy will review your videos and call you with her recommendations

A few important notes:

  • The video consultation is not a live virtual/online meeting with Nancy. She will review video clips of your child online then call you with her recommendations.
  • Video clips are required; Nancy cannot give recommendations without first viewing your child's current skills.
  • This is not a formal evaluation; no written documentation is included in the video consultation.

VIDEO CONSULTS ARE FOR:

Children who live out of state or in Michigan but an hour or more away from our clinic in West Bloomfield. If you live closer than an hour away, please register for an in-person evaluation here.

Children whose parents would like to bring them to KCC for an intensive visit. It is important to Nancy that her methods will be a good fit for your child before you make the trip. Children will not be scheduled without completing a video consultation.

VIDEO CONSULTS ARE NOT APPROPRIATE FOR:

Children local to the suburban Detroit area who wish to receive ongoing, regular therapy at the KCC. They will require full, in-person evaluations before beginning sessions.

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

Please note that children with autism spectrum disorder who are minimally vocal are generally not appropriate for intensive programs (more info available here). Nancy is happy to provide advice, but the video consult will not result in an in-person visit.

FEE

The fee for a video consultation is $100. You can pay using our secure service when you fill out the form (see below).

TIPS FOR FILMING:

Video consultations are limited to 30 minutes of footage.

Child working with SLP (BEST):

If at all possible, send video of a therapy session between your child and their speech pathologist. Please have the SLP show actual treatment techniques and not just a speech and/or language sample so Nancy is able to make some useful suggestions.

Please note: It is best if the SLP is interested in working collaboratively with Nancy and is familiar with the K-SLP methods and materials rather than this consultation being imposed on the SLP, who may not be interested or invested in the K-SLP techniques. This should be a positive and desired collaboration with the purpose of working together on behalf of the children!

Child working with a parent:

If it is not possible to film your child in a speech and language session, parents should make sure to film the child demonstrating the skills listed below under content. Video clips should give the best idea of what the child sounds like when they attempt to speak.

Video length:

You may submit up to five links, but the total viewing time cannot exceed 30 minutes.

Content:

  • Focus on the child and be sure that their mouth is visible.
  • If available, administer parts of the Kaufman Speech Praxis Test (KSPT).
  • Have the child imitate a series of isolated vowels, consonant-vowel combinations, words, and phrases.
  • Have the child name common objects.
  • Please say the name of each object after the child does, so that there is a reference for the true word.
  • Try to provide some type of spontaneous speech.

HOW TO FIND VIDEO LINKS

Up to five video links (maximum of 30 minutes total) may be sent for Nancy's review. Follow the directions below to find the links from Dropbox or YouTube you will need to paste into the consultation form.

For security purposes, we are not able to download any clips and are only able to accept videos that Nancy can view online. Please send direct links to individual videos (not folders) posted to Dropbox or YouTube. Your consultation will not be processed if you send links to other sites or by email attachment.

Here are some tips for using Dropbox and YouTube:

Dropbox:

  • Upload your videos following the directions provided Dropbox.
  • Click "all files" for a list of all videos uploaded to your Dropbox account.
  • Right-click on a video's title and choose "copy link address"
  • Paste the link where indicated in the form below. Repeat for up to five links.
  • Very important – If you are sharing several video clips, be sure to send the individual link to each video. DO NOT send links to full folders. Sending that way requires us to download the videos instead of viewing them online and takes up too much space in our Dropbox account.

YouTube:

  • Upload your videos following the directions provided Dropbox.
  • Be sure to set each of your video’s privacy settings to unlisted. This means that only those with the direct link will be able to view your video. We will not be able to view your videos if they are set to private.
  • Click on your video, then select SHARE at the bottom right of the video. Copy the link provided in the pop-up window.
  • Paste the link where indicated in the form below. Repeat for up to five links.
  • Please note: YouTube is an online sharing service. If you are concerned about confidentiality, please use the Dropbox option.

HOW TO SEND YOUR VIDEOS

Submit information about your child and up to 5 video links on our form HERE.

  • Before beginning the form, please upload your video clips to Dropbox or YouTube (a maximum of 5 links and 30 minutes total), and have the links to the videos handy. There are instructions below on how to find those links.
  • Please note: For security purposes, we are not able to download any clips and are only able to accept videos that Nancy can view online. Your consultation will not be processed if you send links to other sites.
  • At the end of the form, you will be able to make your payment for the video using our secure service.
  • Please email Cyndi Davis with any questions.

Submit Information

Click below to visit the video consultation form

Submit via Typeform

Questions?

Contact Cyndi Davis
at the email below

Email Cyndi

Speech Praxis Experience at Kaufman (SPEAK)

Intensive speech and language program at the KCC

The Speech Praxis Experience at Kaufman (SPEAK) is an intensive speech and language program with Nancy R. Kaufman, MA, CCC-SLP, featuring her Kaufman Speech to Language (K-SLP) methods. It is generally for children who live out of Michigan or in-state but too far to come for regular sessions.

The purpose of SPEAK is for Nancy to evaluate children face-to-face, determine goals, and demonstrate K-SLP techniques. Children generally make progress during the visit, but the main intention is to introduce and explain the methods, coach parents through play, and collaborate with the child's home speech and language team.

SPEAK visits are available year-round and are generally 2-3 days in length. They include:

  • Full speech and language evaluation
  • 3-5 therapy sessions (30 minutes each)
  • A parent conference to review goals and techniques and address questions and concerns

Traveling to Michigan with kids is not an easy operation and Nancy takes that very seriously. She will only recommend an intensive visit if she feels that it will be beneficial for the child and if the child’s team is open to the K-SLP methods and her collaboration. If Nancy does not feel that the child is ready for the intensive program, she will make other helpful recommendations.

To qualify for an intensive visit, children must:

  • Have the ability to imitate consonants, vowels, and syllables
  • Be able to sit and attend for 30-minute sessions, motivated by highly preferred toys and activities

Children with autism spectrum disorder who are minimally vocal are generally not appropriate for the SPEAK program. We have found that these children require much more of a time commitment than half-hour sessions over four days and do best when both speech-language pathologists and behavior analysts work together for their benefit.

Our team approach is implemented through our applied behavior analysis (ABA) program, where we have the opportunity to work with the children for full or half days, four days a week, over many weeks. Click HERE for more information on those programs.

Parents of children with ASD are still encouraged to submit a video for consultation. Nancy can can provide some suggestions and recommendations for techniques and webinars/e-courses that may be helpful.

Once Nancy has evaluated the child in person, she may schedule additional half-hour SPEAK sessions, if appropriate and if her schedule allows. Extra sessions with Nancy are charged at a rate of $100 per half hour.

While at the KCC, many families choose for their children to receive occupational therapy services. Kids with apraxia of speech or other speech-sound disorders often benefit from oral-motor, fine-motor, and even sensory integration therapy. We will arrange an individualized schedule for each child during the time that you are here. OT sessions are an extra fee, charged at a rate of $70 per half hour.

Family members who travel to the KCC with the child are able to watch all sessions through an observation window, and will have the opportunity to participate in parent coaching within some of the sessions.

Each SPEAK therapy session is recorded so families can review and share techniques with the child’s home speech-language pathologist.

If you are interested in having your child participate in a SPEAK visit, your first step is to submit a video to determine if she or he is appropriate for the program. Click HERE for information on how to record and submit a video. Once Nancy reviews the video, she will contact you to get the ball rolling.

Video Consultations

Required before scheduling
an intensive visit

VIDEO CONSULT DETAILS

Contact

Questions about the program
and required video consult

EMAIL KCC

Travel Information

Where to stay and fun things
to do in the Detroit area

EMAIL KCC

Individual Speech & Language Therapy

One-on-one therapy with our speech-language pathologists

Speech-language pathologists at the KCC can help children:

  • Improve oral-motor skills
  • Become verbal communicators
  • Become intelligible speakers
  • Process and comprehend spoken language
  • Put words together to formulate their thoughts with age-appropriate grammatical skills
  • Diminish “jargon” and replace with effective verbal communication
  • Examine echolalia, and modify with the ability to process and comprehend spoken language so it can also be expressed
  • Be able to understand directions and language beyond their memorized routines
  • Desensitize them to their difficulties and instill confidence, trust, and self-esteem!

Questions?

Please contact:

248-737-3430
EMAIL