Speech Sounds A Guide for Parents and Professionals
Nancy Caleffe-Schenck, M.Ed., CCC-A, Cert. AVT® and Dian Baker, MA, CCC-SLP, Cert. AVT®
Overview of Speech Sounds
Integration of Audition, Speech, Language, Literacy and Cognition
Learning to communicate with spoken language is most effective through meaningful and enjoyable experiences that integrate listening, speech, language, reading and thinking. When listening and talking are relevant and positive, spoken communication can emerge in a natural way for children who are deaf. There is no single method that works best for teaching speech to all children who are deaf, and speech Sounds is simply one approach. It is based on the premise that young children with cochlear implant(s) need to be exposed to all speech sounds through listening as a building block in establishing a strong auditory foundation.
Speech Sounds consists of units for 20 English consonant sounds. Each card condenses a relatively large body of information into manageable units to easily incorporate speech into everyday experiences and books. It is used in conjunction with specific language goals from a child’s individualized treatment plan. Optimally a family is working in partnership with a therapist or educator for auditory habilitation. A child’s progress is related to a strong link among home, daycare, school and therapy and the child’s interactions with everyone in these settings.
Each Speech Sounds unit focuses on one speech sound and incorporates
- Child-friendly words
- Daily routines
- Activities
- Games and toys
- Songs, rhymes and fingerplays
- A popular children’s book
- Additional books
