Types of Feedback in Apraxia Therapy

Feedback is very important in apraxia therapy. It is part of the structure of principles of motor learning. It gives the child information as to whether or not his production was accurate or if he needs to change the movements on the next production.  

Do you know about the different types of feedback that we use in apraxia therapy?

What are the two main types of feedback:

Knowledge of performance: more specific feedback is given i.e. you need to close your lips to produce /m/. This type of feedback is given when the child is acquiring the motor plan.

Knowledge of results: general feedback about the overall production i.e. that's it, I heard the word "go", "correct". This type of feedback is given when working on generalizing the motor plan.  We provide less specific information about the movement so that the child takes ownership and does not rely on cueing. 

It is important to fade cues.  Knowledge of results is a step towards fading cueing.

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO EXAMPLE  I went back and forth between the two types of feedback.  I was trying to fade the specific cueing but when he needed more cueing, I jumped back in.

CLICK HERE FOR ANOTHER VIDEO I gave the child specific feedback about his jaw movement (knowledge of performance), and then backed off the specific cueing and said "good" (knowledge of results) or didn't say anything, which let him know that the production was correct.

VIDEO ON FADING CUES I used my hand to provide cueing.  When I put up my finger, it indicated to him that his production was correct.  It is a quick, subtle way to provide feedback. He has been working with me for a few months so he is familiar with this type of cueing. 

For more information about principles of motor learning and a free handout, click here.