Critical Analysis of Treatment Program/Evaluation Procedure
Date of Presentation: May 10, 2010
Students’ Names:Jeff Conn, Carrie Crino, Cory Larson
Roles/Responsibilities: Jeff Conn (presenter, client), Carrie Crino (presenter, demonstration manager), Cory Larson (presenter, client)
Treatment Program/Evaluation Procedure:
Author:S. Sue Berman
Date/Price:1996. The book is no longer in publication, but the author was contacted via e-mail and she said the book can still be purchased for $20 plus shipping and handling.
Publisher (Name & Address):Pro-Ed, Inc.,
8700 Shoal Creek Boulevard
Austin, Texas 78757-6897
Stated Uses: Phonology for Groupsis a program designed for children ages 3 to 7 with phonological disorders who are exhibiting similar error patterns. It utilizes group therapy to facilitate specific phonological and grammatical targets in a naturalistic setting.
Format (e.g., Web site, manual, etc.):It is a book much like a teachers manual that provides: instructions on how to use the program and how to select the target patterns, sounds, and words; lesson plans to address target patterns, mainly velars and /s/ clusters; and therapy tips.
Target Populations: This program was designed for preschoolers between two and a half and five and a half years of age with moderate to severe phonological disorders. The author also states that the thematic ideas in the program can also be used with six to seven year olds. The author also suggests that this program can be used in child care centers, Kindergarten and First grade, Head Start programs, university clinics, outpatient hospital settings and by private practitioners.
Is the cost reasonable and justifiable?Yes NoN/A
Is the program/procedure theoretically grounded?Yes NoN/A
Would the program/procedure be feasible to use in the PSU clinic?Yes NoN/A
Are outcomes clearly stated?Yes NoN/A
Is there peer review research that supports or contradicts the stated
outcomes or benefits?Yes NoN/A
Has the author published other information related to this product?Yes NoN/A
Does the company that published the program/procedure have a good record? Yes No N/A
Overall Critique
We all agreed that we liked the concept of this program and its intended use. The approach is grounded in the theory of Natural Phonology. This means that if phonological processes are truly innate processes, then they are easier for children to produce. If a child's motor capacities have not allowed them to reach the norm production of sounds, sound classes and sequences, then there will be substitutions. This is wherePhonology for Groupscan address these patterns in a clear, organized format that can be integrated into a typical pre-school routine on a daily basis. The design allows for the target patterns, sounds and words to be used throughout each activity of day in a systematic way that appears very non-systematic. A major strength of this program is how the target patterns, sounds and words are simply part of the children's daily familiar routine.
The only weakness we found was more about the lack of peer-reviewed research than anything wrong with the program itself. This could possibly be due to the publisher's lack of marketing the product effectively. [Am I stating this correctly based on what you discussed with Dr. Chabon?]Since Ms. Berman's work is heavily modeled after a combination of Barbara Hodson's and Elaine Paden's book, Targeting Intelligible Speech (1991), and the Language Acquisition Preschool (LAP) program developed by Rice and Wilcox (1995) at University of Kansas, there is much legitimacy in the effectiveness of this program. Ms. Berman also has strong data from the use of her program at Marquette University that support her reasons for promoting the Phonology for Groups concept.
Adapted from Lemoncello (unpublished) Critical Analysis Worksheet-Products & Workshops
And ASHA (2004) What to Ask When Evaluating Any Treatment Procedure, Product, or Program