Introduction
The study investigates the complexity approach with the view of providing guidelines to clinicians on how it can be implemented. Evidence shows that most speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are not familiar with alternative treatment options and instead rely on traditional approaches. The paper provides resources that can be used to help assess the accuracy and stimulability of singletons. This essay will outline the main points of the research and relate them to clinical practice.
Main Points
One of the issues highlighted by the author is the need to select targets who acquire language late. This can be done by assessing the developmental norms of the child. Late-acquired targets are those that developed one year or more beyond the chronological age. Another aspect is that clinicians should focus on the implicational marked fricatives. This is because research shows that targeting marked fricatives enhanced the learning of unmarked stops. Children with the least knowledge are more likely to benefit from a broad system-wide change since it results in faster speech sound normalization. The paper also indicates that priority should be given to non-stimulable targets because treatment is needed to enhance accuracy.
The study suggests that clinicians should implement the complexity approach as a treatment option for phonological treatment. However, the method may present several barriers to therapists which have to be considered. One of the barriers is production accuracy and stimulability may not be a part of every assessment. Another issue is that the four tenets (age of acquisition, implication universals, production accuracy, and stimulability) present a lot of information for the clinicians which may be difficult to track. The paper provides illustrations of how the approach can be used using case studies of three children.
Relation to Clinical Practice
The complexity approach allows clinicians to focus on broad issues that are left out when using traditional methods. Using the complexity style may result in more time taken in assessment and treatment planning. However, the effectiveness of the approach may reduce the overall treatment duration. This is essential because the main purpose of using the tactic is to ensure that children with phonological challenges can transform within the shortest time possible. Clinicians have to assess targets for phonological treatments based on the four tenets identified in the paper. This can help the therapists to identify the goals and tailor the final selection to the children’s needs and abilities.
The study provides worksheets that can guide clinicians when assessing and treating children with phonological problems. One of the challenges highlighted by therapists is that the complexity approach requires the collection of a lot of information. This paper streamlines the process of selecting complex treatment targets by providing a tutorial. Therefore, it enhances the ability of clinical therapists to apply complex approaches during treatment. This method has the potential of stabilizing speech sound development and transitioning children with caseloads before school entry.
Conclusion
In summary, the selection of targets in a complexity approach is dependent on their characteristics and knowledge of the targets. In the past, clinicians have assumed the complexity method because it is labor-intensive. However, this study has provided a tutorial that can assist therapists during the selection of targets. Children with phonological challenges need to be assisted before school entry. This will ensure that they can learn without major challenges.