ASHA Learning Pass

People with Down syndrome have extreme difficulty acquiring and maintaining speech clarity. The presence of low muscle tone, anatomical and physiological differences in oral structures, the presence of dysarthria, multiple speech and language disorders simultaneously, and a lack of intense speech practice have devastating impacts on speech production, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Frequent dosage and brief delivery of services have proven successful for this population, as they have for others with motor speech disorders. However, frequent and brief services must be convenient and affordable for busy families. This session discusses teletherapy for individuals with Down syndrome, which provides convenient access to services and appeals to those who learn best visually, and clinical research consistently shows it to be as good as in-person services.

This course is a recorded session from the 2022 ASHA Convention Virtual Library (session 2155V).

Related Courses

See more sessions from the 2022 ASHA Convention.

Learning Outcomes
You will be able to:

• State the benefit of intense, frequent, and short therapy sessions to improve motor speech for those with Down syndrome
• Explain the benefits of teletherapy as a primary mode of delivery for speech disorders that require intense and frequent sessions
• Apply research-based evidence that short and frequent sessions using intense practice are most effective for those with motor speech disorders, such as individuals with Down syndrome

Presenter Information

Jennifer Gray MS, CCC-SLP, owns and operates Grays Peak Speech Services, LLC, a private practice in Colorado, and offers consulting and continuing education opportunities through Connected Speech, LLC, for those working with individuals with Down syndrome. For over 20 years, she has worked to improve speech clarity and oral functioning for those with severe communication needs, while advocating for innovative methods that work to reframe best practices that enhance outcomes and promote independence.

Financial Disclosures:

• Speaker honorarium from LSVT Global for LSVT LOUD for KIDS

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None

Assessment Type

Self-assessment—Think about what you learned and report on the Completion Form how you will use your new knowledge.

To earn continuing education credit, you must complete the learning assessment by the end date below.

Program History and CE Information

Content origination date: November 2022
End date: March 14, 2029

This course is offered for 0.1 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate level, Professional area).