Hi {{first_name}},

A frequently asked question in my DM's is, when can I start working on phrases?

In apraxia therapy, we look at building verbal communication skills through improving their speech motor planning skills.  Therefore, it may be more advantageous to teach more single words then to work on phrases, as single words can be just as effective. 

For example, if the child hands his mom his shoes and says "on", the mom will put on the child's shoes.  He does not need to say "put on" in order for his mom to put his shoes on.

Of course we want to work on more complex motor plans and build their language skills by working on phases.  

Here are a few factors to consider before working on phrases:

1) Does the child have a large enough vocabulary to start combining those words into phrases?

2)  Does the child have the foundational skills such as the ability to attend to your face and cueing for a longer period of time to get through the whole phrase?

3) Is the child already trying to combine words and not producing the sounds / movements accurately?

Stay tuned for part two of this series of working on phrases.

If you are an SLP, take a look at the SPEECH RETREAT. USE THIS AFFILIATE LINK for more information about the presenters and sign up with code ALONNA, to join the fun.

All the best,

Alonna