ACQ Vol 12 no 1 2010

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52 ACQ Volume 12, Number 1 2010 ACQuiring knowledge in speech, language and hearing
Motor speech disorders
when assessing children with motor speech disorders are
observed including sound inventory, word structure, impact
of length and complexity of utterance, and oral motor
movement.
Max’s House is a not-for-profit private speech
pathology clinic in Brisbane offering intensive therapy
specialising in childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) and related
conditions . The top 10 resources
we have compiled are a snapshot of the eclectic mix of
resources in our therapy tool box which we have acquired
over time from experts in the field of motor speech disorders
including Edyth Strand, David Hammer, the PROMPT
institute and Nancy Kaufman.
1. CASANA Apraxia Kids Website
The Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North
America is a non-for-profit organisation which was
established by the inspirational mother, Sharon Gretz. This
website ) has information for everyone
affected by CAS including a library, resources, and
discussion forums for parents and professionals.
2. Clinical Management of Motor Speech
Disorders in Children
Caruso, A. J., & Strand, E., A. (1999). Clinical management
of motor speech disorders in children. New York: Thieme.
All too often, books written for speech pathologists are
criticised for being either too “theoretical” or, alternatively,
full of useful ideas for the clinical setting but lacking a firm
evidence base. Clinical Management of Motor Speech
Disorders in Children is indeed a rare book in that it provides
in depth theoretical information of the working of the motor
speech system and describes, in very practical terms, how
to work with children with motor speech disorders.
3. Treatment Strategies for Childhood
Apraxia of Speech with
David W. Hammer
UPMC Medical Media Services (Producer). (2006). Treatment
strategies for childhood apraxia of speech with David W.
Hammer, M.A., CCC-SLP [Motion picture]. USA: Children’s
Hospital Pittsburgh & CASANA.
Children who have CAS need drill therapy. Drill therapy is
boring (no pun intended). That is, until you’ve seen the work
of David Hammer. David Hammer is a speech pathologist
and CAS expert who has given workshops around the world
on the assessment and treatment of CAS based on the
principles of motor learning. On the Treatment Strategies for
Childhood Apraxia of Speech DVD, he presents effective and
fun techniques for treating children with this disorder.
4. Kaufman Speech Praxis Test
for Children
Kaufman, N. (1995). Kaufman speech praxis test for
children. West Bloomfield, MI: Wayne State University Press.
This test developed by Nancy Kaufman offers an easy-
to-administer assessment of children who are attempting
to imitate oral movements and/or speech. The key areas
Max’s House Top 10 resources for
paediatric motor speech intervention
Kieran Flanagan and Emma Laube
5. Sign Planet Website
When working with children with CAS we utilise Makaton key
word signing as a part of therapy to support their verbal
attempts, to encourage language development and to
provide them with a visual cue for the words and phrases we
are encouraging. The website offers an
easy-to-use dictionary of Auslan signs. It includes a written
explanation as well as a picture and some animated videos
of the signs. Printable worksheets and games are also
available.
6. First Sound Series Books
By Levinia Pereira and Michelle Solomon. Available from
.
These fun books were developed by two speech
pathologists and can be ordered on-line. With titles such
as Pop Up! and Uh-oh these books are repetitive and
predictable, providing the opportunity for repetition of
functional vocabulary, speech targets, and carrier phrases
required for motor speech development.
7. Super Duper Token Tower
Motivating children to produce hundreds of accurate
repetitions of speech targets while having fun at the same