Core Vocabulary: Parent Handout

Core Vocabulary

Is this right for your child?

·      Appropriate for children with inconsistent pronunciations of words

·      Appropriate for children with multiple sound errors

·      Appropriate for children who are unintelligible

·      Not appropriate for childhood apraxia of speech

The procedure

·      Therapy will be held 2 times a week for 30 minutes.

·      Therapy will continue for 8 weeks or more. (16+ sessions)

·       Parents and clinician choose 70 relevant vocabulary words.

·      10 new words will be targeted each week.

·      A speech language pathologist will deliver the therapy, but parent involvement is vital to success.

Goals of Core Vocabulary

·      First, your child should achieve age appropriate production of core vocabulary words. (Keep in mind; some speech errors are normal depending on child's age.)

·      Second, your child should use consistent productions of the core vocabulary words.

What should you do?

·      Clinicians work with parents to create a list of 70 vocabulary that are relevant to the child

·      Clinicians encourage parent involvement in reinforcing vocabulary words at home in the child’s natural environment.

Core Vocabulary Schedule

·      Session 1: Establish best production of 10 target words for that week

·      Session 2: The 10 words will be practiced for mastery 3 times during the session.

·      *This procedure will repeat for the 8 weeks with 10 different vocabulary words each week.

·      After 14 days (every 4^th session) one therapy session will be dedicated to monitoring change with a generalization probe.

Games and Activities

No specific activities are required for this approach, but some games that can be used:

·      Jenga

Evidence Based

For more information on the Core Vocabulary approach:

·      Barbara Dodd

·      Beth McIntosh

·      Sharon Crosby

·      Allison Holm

*These researchers have been influential in the evidence used to support the benefits of