Articulation therapy : traditional approach versus operant conditioning

In the public schools, the speech clinician's caseload generally consists largely of children with articulation errors. Since the caseload is often large, the speech clinician may be unable to see the children enrolled in speech more than twice weekly. As a result, children may be enrolled for long periods, some for several years, and still not be using the error sounds in their conversational speech. Speech clinicians are in need of a method to improve the quality of their speech therapy programs. Some clinicians have been looking to behavior modification as a possible answer, since research in the areas of psychology and education has shown behavior modification to be successful. More recently, behavior modification techniques are being implemented in the area of speech pathology.The problem presented in this research is a comparison of the traditional method of articulation therapy with a method using operant conditioning techniques to modify behavior. Charles Van Riper's paradigm for articulation therapy is the traditional method that will be followed. A token reinforcement program will be utilized to modify the articulation errors in the experimental group. The population to be studied is elementary age children who attend a public school and exhibit one or more misarticulations.If the results of the proposed research indicate that there is no significant difference between the two groups or that the control group is significantly more improved, speech clinicians can continue with the traditional therapy method presently in use. However, if the experimental group is significantly more improved, speech clinicians may have cause to examine their present therapy techniques and reevaluate their effectiveness. Because operant conditioning techniques involve a systematic approach in addition to reinforcement schedules, speech materials and activities may have to be changed to accommodate this approach to therapy.Thesis (M.A.