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A significant proportion of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and intellectual disabilities (ID) do not acquire functional speech, even following interventions. Oral placement therapy teaches speech production using a tactile-proprioceptive strategy. TalkTools was developed to implement oral placement therapy by utilising tools to strengthen and guide oral structures into the correct placement to produce speech sounds (Rosenfeld-Johnson, 2009). Although this intervention is usually implemented with individuals with dysarthria, apraxia of speech fluency disorders, and individuals with hearing loss, TalkTools is frequently implemented with individuals with ID and ASD who have not acquired vocal communication skills. Despite its use, there is currently little evidence to support its implementation. In a recent case study, Solomon, Schepp, Yeich, and Amey (2020) used TalkTools to teach speech sounds to learners with ASD. The study was conducted over an 8 month period and involved 6 participants between the ages of 3 and 12 years. The authors reported an increase in fluency of oral motor movements and an increase between pre and post measures of the Kaufman Speech Praxis Test measuring oral motor imitation and speech sound production. |
