Reasons and Ways to Use Gross Motor Equipment in Articulation Treatment

I’m a school-based and private clinician, but some of my favorite therapy activities use equipment more typically associated with occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) services. When I can get my hands on them! Stability balls, sensory bins, tummy scooters … these activities are highly engaging for students and can promote progress with their speech-language goals. Check out the following research-based benefits of using gross motor equipment as a speech-language pathologist: Behavior bonus: For our students with attention deficit or other behavioral disorders, the traditional sit-at-a-table-and-speak approach can set them up for failure. These kids often struggle throughout the day in the classroom. Why not make speech a place where they can play to their strengths? Gross-motor activities can help kids succeed during sessions by providing a much-needed break from a day of sitting still. Movement activities also motivate and can be used as an incentive to kids for self-monitoring their articulation productions. Carryover shortcut: Wouldn’t we all like tips to improve carryover? A growing body of research into brain-based learning tells us that movement during learning actually helps the brain build new pathways. Motor movement during speech-language activities involves additional neural pathways in the motor activity of speech production. This helps generalization and carryover occur. Muscle-tone magic: Many, if not most, of the kids I see with u...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Tags: Speech-Language Pathology articulation Early Intervention Language Disorders motor speech disorders Schools Source Type: blogs