The Kaufman Approach for Any Late Talker ?

The Kaufman Speech Praxis Treatment certainly can be used with any late-talking child. says developer Nancy Kaufman: “In fact, by employing these techniques, we can make a much clearer judgment as to whether there is an apraxia of speech in quite young children or whether we are merely looking at ‘neurological immaturity.’ The Kaufman approach assists children in attempting their best word approximations when they can’t produce complete words. By teaching them that it is okay to say “wawa” for water, or “ba” for ball, or “nana” for banana, they come to understand how to say words that they may have been avoiding because they did not know how to simplify them. It is quite common for late-talking children, after being introduced to the Kaufman method, to move full steam ahead, developing more and more “approximated” vocabulary. Then, they move into full, clear vocabulary and begin to combine words independently without the need for continued therapy. If they do not move ahead rapidly, it would be appropriate to suspect that the child has apraxia.

Part of the Kaufman approach is the early establishment of a “core vocabulary,” consisting of a few simple, functional words like “mama,” “up,” “more,” and “me” that are practiced until they become part of your child’s “motor memory.” Core words are put into a notebook that is practiced at home and incorporated into daily activities. The key to treatment is repetition so that the learning of new speech sounds becomes more automatic. There are kits explaining the Kaufman method that can be used by professionals or by parents at home.

 

Shop Speechville Express Kaufman Kits

       

                        

                              

Kaufman Speech Praxis Treatment Kits for Children
By Nancy R. Kaufman, M.A., CCC/SLP
Author of The Kaufman Speech Praxis Test for Children, 1995