Efficacy and Cross-Domain Effects of a Morphosyntax and a Phonology Intervention
Publication: Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools
Volume 33, Number 1
Pages 52-66
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was three-fold: (a) to determine the efficacy of a morphosyntax and a phonology intervention against a no-treatment control group, (b) to assess the effects of those interventions on the non-targeted domain, and (c) to evaluate sequence effects when children receive both interventions.
Method: Twenty preschoolers with impairments in both morphosyntax and phonology were assigned randomly to an intervention of two 12-week blocks beginning with either a block of phonology first (n = 10) or a block of morphosyntax first (n = 10). Data were collected at pretreatment, after the first intervention block, and posttreatment. For a control group of 7 children, data were collected at the beginning and end of a time period equivalent to one intervention block. Changes in a finite morpheme composite and target/generalization phoneme composite were assessed.
Results: In comparison to the control group, both interventions were effective at a statistically significant level in facilitating improvement in the target domain after 12 weeks. The morphosyntax intervention led to cross-domain change in phonology that was similar to that achieved by the phonology intervention. The morphosyntax first sequence also led to slightly better overall morphosyntactic performance.
Clinical Implications: Clinically, results suggest targeting morphosyntax first, followed by phonology, if using a block intervention sequence for children with concomitant morphosyntactic and phonological impairments.
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Copyright © 2002 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
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- Received: Jun 15, 2001
- Accepted: Oct 29, 2001
- Published in issue: Jan 1, 2002
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