This workshop will focus on complex cases of phonological impairment in children. Various phonological theories will be used to guide clinical management for toddlers with emerging or limited phonological systems, and preschool-aged children with atypical or severe phonological impairment.

Session 1: Saturday 11 November 2023, 1:30 - 4:30pm (AEDT)
Session 2: Saturday 25 November 2023, 1:30 - 4:30pm (AEDT)

Learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• create a speech-sampling task for toddlers and pre-schoolers with suspected speech sound disorder
• analyse phonetically transcribed speech sample using independent and relational phonological analyses including descriptions of inventory, positional and sequence constraints and description of atypical phonological rules
• identify suitable intervention targets for toddlers and pre-schoolers with atypical or severe phonological impairment
• compare and contrast suitable evidence-based intervention approaches for children with atypical or severe phonological impairment
• explain how children’s phonological systems could be monitored throughout intervention, and the types of tools and measures useful for reporting intervention outcomes.

Who should attend?

Registrants must be speech pathologists.

This workshop is a masterclass (rather than a beginner class), and is suitable for clinicians with at least 2+ years of experience working with children who have phonological impairment. The workshop will assume basic knowledge such as typical phonological development and phonological processes, different approaches to target selection, and common approaches to phonological intervention such as minimal pairs, multiple oppositions and cycles.

If you have attended workshops by Elise in previous years, content about strategic speech sampling and nonlinear phonological analysis will be similar; there will be a greater focus on problem-solving atypical and severe presentations of phonological impairment in children.

Further course information, zoom links and workshop materials will be made available via the Member Hub closed learning community for this event. Please note this will only be accessible following enrolment.

Presenter: Dr Elise Baker

Elise Baker, Ph.D., CPSP is a Conjoint Associate Professor of Allied Health in the School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University and South Western Sydney Local Health District. She is also a Fellow of Speech Pathology Australia, the Higher Education Academy and an ASHA Fellow.

Elise’s research focuses on assessment and intervention for speech sound disorders in children and late talking toddlers. She is regularly invited to provide continuing professional education to practicing speech-language pathologists on the management of communication disorders in children.