FACILITATING [S]-PRODUCTION IN YOUNG-CHILDREN - AN EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF MOTORIC AND CONCEPTUAL TREATMENT APPROACHES

Eighteen phonologically disordered children were assigned to one of tw o experimental treatment programmes. Half of the children received a m otoric treatment, which focused on establishing sound production in is olation, words, and phrases. The remaining children received a concept ual treatment, which sought to establish the phonemic nature of /s/ wi thout providing motor practice. Treatment efficacy was evaluated by an alysing [s] production during administration of a generalization probe . The motoric treatment was more effective overall; although some subj ects, whose phonetic inventory included [s] prior to treatment, genera lized correct production following the introduction of the conceptual treatment.