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ACT Speech Sound Home Program Data

2009/2010 ACT on Speech Sound Development Program Results

 

During the 2009/2010 school year, the Eau Claire Area School District Speech/Language Department created resources to educate families and caregivers on ways to ACT on their child's speech sound development.

 

Our ACT on Speech Sound Development Home Program and Training was supported in part by use of 2009 ARRA Stimulus funds.

 

Activities Completed

Revised ACT on Speech Sound Development brochure

Revised ACT Request for Assistance Process

Created ACT home program materials

Developed progress monitoring speech sound probes

Administered ACT on Speech Sound Development survey with families and caregivers following first home program meeting with a speech/language pathologist

 

Program Data - 2009-2010

Total number of ACT on Speech Sound Home Programs provided to Early Education parents/childcare providers:  29

79% of the ACT home programs were completed successfully with adequate speech sound gains made by children. 

Successful completion of the home programs correlated with children’s speech sound errors:

Children requiring S-blend home programs achieved nearly 100% successful completion of their home programs
Children receiving k, g, f, or s home programs presented a mixed range of completion of home programs.

Of the 12 students who went to referral, 92% (11) qualified for speech/language services.  The one student who did not meet eligibility was a parent-driven referral request.

Of the families receiving home programs, 41% (12) returned speech sound progress monitoring probes following the completion of their child’s home program.  Those families who did not return speech sound probes tended to be teacher-driven requests for assistance.

Parent and Childcare/Teacher Surveys

In addition to student data, a survey was sent to all adults who participated in the ACT on Speech Sound Development Home Program meeting.

Handout:  ACT on Speech Sound Development Survey

Results of Child Care Provider/Early Education Teacher Survey:

Seventeen childcare providers/preschool teachers received ACT on Speech Sound Home Program training for children in their care.  Of these, 53% (9) child care/teacher surveys were returned.  Results from the survey:

1. Did you learn information you did not know before? 
   1a) Normal sound development?     Yes 67%      No 33%
   1b) Names of sound processes your student uses?     Yes 89%     No 11%
   1c) Ways to use ACT, (awareness, cueing, target words) to help your student speak more clearly?    
        Yes 78%     No 22%

2.  Was the meeting with you and the speech/language pathologist helpful?
      Yes 100%

3.  Was the information presented at this meeting clear and concise?  
      Yes 100%

4.  Was the information in the “ACT on Speech” brochure helpful and easy to understand?  
      Yes 100%

5.  Which aspects of the ACT process (awareness, cueing, target words) were you able to carry out in your daily classroom routine? 
      All three 45%, awareness only  11%, target words only  33%, awareness and target words  11%.

6.  Which aspects were difficult to carry out and why? 
     Awareness and cueing  11% (school vacation),
     Cueing 11% (not in front of peers),
     Target sounds33% (space and time),
     None were difficult  45%.

7.  Were the home program sound packets clear and easy to implement?
     Yes  100%

Comments relating to 1a, 1b, and 1c above:

“It’s so specific to each child, that (the information) is always helpful.”
“Helpful strategies to use and suggested times to use them.”
“She told us sounds he needs to work on, including more sounds from the previous visit.”
“I had only one child in the (home) program, and by week four, they were all participating.”
“Handouts helped.”

Results of Parent Survey:

Of the 29 families receiving home programs, 72% (21) returned the parent survey.

1.  Did you learn information you did not know before?
    1a.  Normal sound development? 
          Yes 76%,  No  0% , Somewhat 24%
    1b.  The names of sound processes your child uses? 
          Yes  95%  No 5%
    1c.  Ways to use awareness, cueing, and target words (ACT) to help your child speak more clearly? 
          Yes  100%

2. Was the meeting with you, your child, and the speech/language pathologist helpful?
     Extremely  52%,  Very 48%

3.  Was the information presented at this meeting clear and concise?  
    Extremely  57%, Very 43%

4.  Were the written directions for the home program clear and easy to understand? 
     Extremely 43%, Very 57%

5.  Was the information in the “ACT on Speech” brochure helpful and easy to understand? 
     Extremely 38%, Very 52%, Somewhat 10%

6.  Was the two week phone call from the speech/language pathologist useful as you worked with your child? 
     Extremely 23% (5),
     Very 43% (9), 
     Not at all  5% (1),
     Not applicable 19% (4)(phone out of service or did not receive message left)

7.  Did you complete the recommended home program?
     Yes 76%,  No 0%, Somewhat 24%

8.  If not, what factors prevented you from completing it? 
    Remembering 10% (2)
    Time 14% (1),
    Energy 5% (1),
    Child resistance 24% (5),
    Mom disorganized 5% (1),
    Concern about doing it correctly 5% (1).

9.  Was the home program clear and easy to implement? 
      Extremely  52%,  Very 43%,  Did not do 5%.

10.  Would you recommend the home program to other families?   Yes 100%?

Comments related to 1a, 1b, and 1c above:

“Gave me lots of hope.  I didn’t know anything.”
“Gave me plenty of information, and pointed out things I was not aware of.”
“This has given us all a chance to pay more attention to other sounds.”
“Handouts were very helpful.”
“Very helpful, and the matching game was the best.”