Adding auditory and tactile on top of visual cues (i.e. cued articulation) to articulation practice can help strengthen your child’s understanding of correct speech sounds and foster their ability to imitate and produce them accurately.
Cued Articulation is a powerful method designed to improve speech clarity, enhance language development, and aid in the acquisition of phonetic skills. Developed by Jane Passy, a speech pathologist, cued articulation is widely utilized in speech therapy and education settings to support individuals, especially children, in mastering the intricate sounds of language.
The foundation of Cued Articulation lies in its multisensory approach, incorporating visual, tactile, and auditory cues to facilitate the understanding and production of speech sounds. This holistic method not only addresses speech difficulties but also contributes to broader language acquisition.
Now, as a parent or a patient who isn’t trained on speech and language therapy, adding cued articulation might seem overwhelming and complex. If so, stick with the basics and just focus on being consistent on doing the activities at home. Being consistent in your practice is the first and most important foundation.
Auditory Cued Articulation to Reinforce Sound Patterns
All speech sound therapy starts with auditory cues. Auditory cues also play a vital role in Cued Articulation by reinforcing correct sound patterns. Hearing the correct pronunciation of sounds helps your child develop their auditory discrimination skills. This enables them to distinguish between accurate and inaccurate speech sounds, contributing to improved overall speech intelligibility.
Through consistent exposure to auditory cues, your child internalizes the correct sound patterns, making it an essential component in the acquisition of clear and precise speech.
Utilizing Visual Cues for Better Understanding
In clinic and at home, we use flashcards to illustrate the target sounds. Adding visuals cues can also provide a clear representation of each speech sound’s articulatory movements. The system employs a set of hand cues, with each hand gesture corresponding to a specific sound. They can provide additional context and help a parent, educator or other listener better understand his or her message.
Teaching your child to use visual cues can be particularly helpful in reducing frustrations when a child with articulation issues tries to communicate. Your speech and language therapist can guide you on learning the visual cues and teaching them to your child.
For example, a cue may involve tapping the cheek to represent a bilabial sound like /p/. These visual cues serve as a guide for correct tongue and lip placement, helping individuals visualize and internalize the intricate movements required for accurate sound production.
Also, by incorporating visual cues, individuals can develop a stronger connection between the written and spoken aspects of language. This aids in phonemic awareness, where the ability to recognize and manipulate individual sounds becomes a foundation for literacy skills.
As a parent, I always want to balance screen time and engaging offline activities, here is a curated list of articulation activities you can do with your child
Try our selected articulation games
Leveraging Tactile Cued Articulation for Enhanced Learning
Research suggests that tactile cues can significantly improve a child’s articulation skills. Tactile cues in Cued Articulation involve physical touch or pressure applied to specific areas of the face or throat to provide sensory feedback. This hands-on approach enhances the learning experience through an a more immersive and actively engages your child by incorporating the sense of touch in articulatory practices. For instance, feeling the vibration on the lips or throat during specific sounds aids in understanding the mechanics of speech production.
- Touching the articulators: Encourage your child to explore different speech sounds by gently guiding their hand to the relevant articulators. For instance, prompt them to place their hand on their throat while producing voiced sounds like “v” or “z.” This tactile feedback can help them understand the vibrations associated with these sounds.
- Using textured objects: Engage your child in tactile activities using textured objects, such as sandpaper or fabric, that promote awareness of specific articulatory movements. For example, running their fingers across sandpaper can help them focus on the friction created while producing the “s” sound. Additionally, using fabric with different textures can help them differentiate between sounds like “sh” and “ch.”
- Exploring temperature variations: Introducing temperature variations can add an additional sensory component to articulation therapy. For example, using a warm or cold spoon to touch the lips or tongue while practicing specific sounds can help children become more aware of the movements and sensations associated with speech production.
Tactile cues are particularly beneficial for children with articulation difficulties, as they offer a tangible and interactive way to explore speech sounds. By incorporating touch, Cued Articulation ensures a comprehensive approach to address a range of speech sound errors related to tongue placement, jaw movement, and airflow.
Cued Articulation stands as an innovative and holistic approach in articulation therapy. The combination of auditory, visual, and tactile cues in Cued Articulation creates a robust learning environment for language development, catering to diverse learning styles and maximizing the effectiveness of articulation therapy.
Cues in Educational Settings
In educational settings, Cued Articulation has been widely adopted as a supplementary tool to traditional speech therapy. Teachers utilize this method to support phonics instruction, language development, and emergent literacy skills. The clear and systematic nature of the cues allows educators to integrate them seamlessly into classroom activities, creating an inclusive environment for children with diverse learning needs.
Moreover, Cued Articulation has shown positive results in promoting expressive and receptive language skills. By enhancing speech clarity and phonetic awareness, children are better equipped to communicate effectively and engage more actively in academic and social interactions.
