Phonological disorders treatment effect with a stimulability and segment complexity strata model with speech intervention software (SIFALA)

ABSTRACT

This paper focuses on the effect of the Strata Model based on Stimulability and Segment Complexity combined with the use of Speech Intervention Software on phonological disorders treatment. A case study was conducted with four subjects aged between 4:10 and 6:7, both males and females, with phonological disorders. All subjects were assessed for phonological system, stimulability, stomatognathic system and hearing screening. The therapeutic model was based on a mixed approach, wherein different models, procedures and strategies were combined, adapted and created. Each subject was treated with one of the four strata proposed in the model. The use of Speech Intervention Software was aimed at motivating the children by means of an interactive, lively and playful code. An analysis was made of data on subjects' phonological system and number of correctly produced consonants, both before and after therapy. The Chi-square test was used with a level of significance at 5% (p< 0.05). There were changes in the sound system for all treated subjects: segments were established in their phonetic inventory and acquired in their phonological system. The subjects treated by the strata that were focused on greater complexity of the Implicational Model of Feature Complexity showed more therapeutic improvement. However, because there was a reduced number of subjects, greater effectiveness cannot be attributed to any of the strata at this point. In conclusion, the Model and the use of Speech Intervention Software had a positive effect, contributing to the planning and treatment of phonological speech disorders. However, further studies should be conducted with larger samples to confirm the findings.

Keywords:
Speech-Language Pathology; Rehabilitation of Speech and Language Disorders; Software; Computer-Assisted Instruction; Speech; Child