Stimulability Approach
Implementation of the Stimulability Approach :
Stimulability is defined as the client's ability to accurately produce a phoneme when provided a model for it. Typically, stimulability is initially achieved at sound level but can be identified at various production levels. These levels can include syllable, word, and sentence. When a sound becomes stimulable, it indicates to the SLP that the sound is ready to be targeted in traditional articulation therapy (within each level). When sounds are stimulable, it shows a readiness for therapy.
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One goal of stimulability is to focus on increasing the child's phonemic inventory using visual speech sound cue cards and hand motions. Overall, this approach is geared towards younger children who are not stimulable for consonants. This has also been effective for older children who have Childhood Apraxia of Speech.
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The video below will outline procedures of the Stimulability Approach:
You know what the Stimulability Approach is... Now what?
Now that you have learned about the Stimulability Approach, what kind of client would benefit from its use, and saw a short demonstration video, you may be thinking... now what?​
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The goal of the SLP Quick Treatment guide is to help SLPs learn about available approaches they could utilize in their treatment as well as offering a list of therapy resources, research for the approach, and even data collection sheets. Essentially, this is the drawer of our "filing cabinet" that is dedicated to the Stimulability Approach - we hope it helps to jumpstart your treatment utilizing this approach!
FREE Resources:
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Speech Stimulability Character Cards Supplement by Star City Speech
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Speech Sound Warm-Up | Sound Stimulability Probe and Warm-Up Activity (teacherspayteachers.com)
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PAID Resources:
Data Collection Sheets:
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Research Supporting Stimulability:
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Bowen, C. (2011). Stimulability Therapy. Retrieved from http://www.speech-language-therapy.com/
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Miccio, A. W., & Elbert, M. (1996). Enhancing stimulability: A treatment program. Journal of Communication Disorders, 29(4), 335–351. https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9924(96)00016-0
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Stimulability approach. (n.d.). https://www.speechdatabase.com/treatment-library/speech-sound-disorders/articulation/stimulability-approach
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Powell, T. W., & Miccio, A. W. (1996). Stimulability: A useful clinical tool. Journal of Communication Disorders, 29(4), 237–253. https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9924(96)00012-3