Treatment Efficacy for Developmental Motor Speech Disorders

The PROMPT approach utilizes a motor-speech hierarchy (MSH) to guide speech language pathologists (SLP) in selecting speech movement goals for treatment. PROMPT treatment generally proceeds systematically in a bottom-up fashion starting with the lowest subsystem in the hierarchy where a child has control issues. Furthermore, in the PROMPT approach specific techniques are used to stimulate sensory input that are assumed to facilitate the formation of sensory-motor pathways required for the acquisition and accurate production of speech movement patterns. As the speech motor behaviors are established, the clinician reduces the number of cues and the frequency and immediacy of feedback and practices transfer and generalization activities.