Effects of integral stimulation therapy on speech - Portland State ...

period <strong>of</strong> no treatment for speech sounds targeted in this study. The probes included four
(10 minute) sessions <strong>of</strong> data collection at Portland State University’s Speech and Hearing
Clinic and at CP’s home.
Participant
CP was a 5-year, 5-month old male at the onset <strong>of</strong> this study, diagnosed with
childhood apraxia <strong>of</strong> speech. A parent interview revealed that there were no medical
complications associated with their child’s prenatal development or birth and that CP was
reported to have reached early developmental motor milestones within age appropriate
timeframes. Concerns over their son’s speech development began when his mother
noticed that CP’s speech sounds were delayed in comparison with their first son’s speech
development. CP made predominantly cooing sounds during his first year, and then at
approximately one year <strong>of</strong> age he began to babble. His speech sound productions were
described as being inconsistent. His parents reported that they <strong>of</strong>ten needed to say a word
for him (model) before he could produce it himself. CP’s first words were “mama” and
“dada” at approximately 14 months <strong>of</strong> age.
Parental concerns for CP’s speech development increased at 2 years <strong>of</strong> age. His
sound productions remained inconsistent and began to take on unusual qualities such as
consonant and vowel distortions. His mother recalls, “CP would produce a sound one day
and then the next day couldn’t make the same sound.” His parents noticed that CP relied
heavily on gestures for communicating his needs. He was described as being in good
general health, having experienced no high fevers, hospitalizations, and only two ear
infections: one in infancy and the other at 4 years <strong>of</strong> age. Neither infection presented
significant medical concerns.
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