Examining the effectiveness of computer based articulation therapy in preschool speech sound disorder therapies

Advances in information technology bring a new dimension to materials used in speech and language therapy. Computer based speech therapy applications both creates a material library for therapists and the interesting graphics and colorful interfaces keeps the child's attention alive. The aim of this study is to develop Turkish Articulation Therapy Application (TARTU) that can be used in articulation therapies with the children who has speech sound disorder and compare the efficacy of this application with printed material. (In accordance) with this aim, one of the single subject research models, adapted alternating treatment design was used. The study was conducted with two children with the ages 5;1 and 5;11 who have speech sound disorder. Effectiveness of the TARTU is determined by the success in accurate production in the probe lists prepared for the three target sounds. These sounds are /k/, /ʃ/ and /l/. The participants completed 12 therapy sessions in total and the sessions were three days a week with behavioral approach. Each therapy session consists of two sessions of 30 minutes. In these sessions, either /k/, or /ʃ/ sound was studied with TARTU and the other sound was studied with printed material with each of the participants. /l/ sound that was used for control behavior and no intervention was done for that sound. The success of the interventions was determined through the polling lists prepared with the words that are not studied in therapy sessions for each target sound. The therapy sessions were terminated when the participants meet the criteria of 90% success, 3 weeks consecutively in the polling list for the target sound. At the end of the study, one of the participants met the criteria with the target sound that is practiced with TARTU, the other participant met criteria with the target sound that is practiced with the printed material. None of the participants showed change in the polling sessions for the sound /l/.