DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATIONS

Is there a communication disorder?

        A communication disorder is defined as an impairment in the ability to receive, send, process, and comprehend concepts or verbal, nonverbal and graphic symbol systems (ASHA1992).  Such impairments may involve the comprehension or use of language, speech production, or a combination of any of these aspects of communication.  To determine whether or not a communication disorder exists and to what severity, a child is evaluated using a combination of standardized testing, family history, and a clinical assessment.   

Is there a motor speech delay/disorder?

        A motor speech delay refers to an impairment in the development of the speech musculature with regard to refined movements of the speech sub-structures (phonation/vocalization, jaw, lips, tongue).  Does the child exhibit independent, flexible, finely controlled and interactive movement between structures?   

A PROMPT evaluation includes...

        A systems analysis observation (SAO) examines structure, function, and integration.  An assessment is made regarding the child's structural form at rest, neuromotor control (view structures in movement) of the body, valving and phonation, jaw, lip, and tongue, and integration of all systems, including timing and prosody.

 

Goals and treatment are developed by examining the following stages of motor speech development:
    Stage I – Muscle tone
    Stage II – Phonation
    Stage III – Mandibular Control
    Stage IV – Labiofacial Control
    Stage V – Lingual Control
    Stage VI – Integration
    Stage VII – Prosody