Efficacy of multiple oppositions therapy in children with speech sound disorder

Abstract

Aim: Speech sound disorders (SSD) decrease intelligibility and increase the possibility of experiencing various communication problems. Considering the academic and psychological problems associated with speech sound disorders, the need for early intervention is undisputable. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of multiple oppositions therapy in Turkish-speaking children with SSD. Material and Method: To determine the effectiveness of multiple oppositions therapy, a multiple probe design across behaviors with probe conditions was employed and nonwords were used as stimuli. The study was performed with three participants aged between 5;0 and 5;8. Two participants received therapy for three target sounds, and one participant received therapy for two target sounds. Results: Participants achieved an accuracy (i.e., correct production) rate of 50%-85% during the intervention sessions. In the successive follow-up sessions, which took place two months after the therapy sessions ended, all participants met the accuracy criterion of 90% correct production with the exception of one target sound. In addition to the target sounds, there were many non-target sounds that were added to the phonetic repertoire of each participant by the time of the follow-up session. Conclusion: The findings indicate that multiple oppositions therapy performed with nonwords is effective in promoting the production and generalization of speech sounds over a short period of time. This study calls for further replication with a larger population involving participants who have different speech sound problems.