Major focus area

Speech Therapy -> Receptive Language

Short description

Focused Stimulation is a hybrid intervention approach where interactions are set to provide a high density of models of the target forms in meaningful communicative contexts. (Cleave & Fey, 1997; Fey, 1986; Girolametto, et al, 1996).

Long description

Focused Stimulation: This is a hybrid intervention approach which combines methods from both child-centered and clinician-directed interventions. The interactions are set to provide a high density of models of the target forms in meaningful communicative contexts.

Procedures of focused stimulation include:

Modeling the targets:
Example of modeling the target of “will” while mixing up some juice:
Child: We need some water.
SLP: Will you get some?
Child: Yea.
SLP: You will? Good. Then I will get the glasses.

Recasts: These can be simply correcting the error;
Example:
Child: Him too big.
SLP: Yeah, he is too big.
Recasts can also change the basic modality of the utterances.
Example:
Child: “This too hard”
SLP: “Is it too hard?” or “It isn’t too hard”.
Recasts can be very informative because they use a variety of ways in which a structure can be used.

Buildups:
Example:
Child: I drawed a picture. It pretty.
SLP: Yeah, you drew a pretty picture.
Child: Me get another cookie. Me hungry.
SLP: Oh, you’re going to get another cookie because you’re hungry.

Breakdowns:
Example:
Child: I need book, not boot.
SLP: Oh, the book. Not the boot. Ok, I’ll get the book.
Child: No. I get it.
SLP: No, I will. I will get it.

Eliciting attempts at the targets: False assertions to encourage the child to produce sentences that require the use of a target.
Example:
Activity: Puzzle, target: use of can’t.
SLP: That can go there (knowing that the piece does not fit).
Child: No it not.
SLP: Yes, it can.
Child: No.
SLP: Yeah, you’re right. That piece can’t go there.
Feigned misunderstandings where SLP intentionally misinterprets an utterance that the child uses.
Example: target is “I”.
Child: “Me want it.”
SLP: (pointing to another person (pretend doll or parent)) “She wants it?”
Child: No, me want it
Adult: No, I do (pointing to herself).

Forced-choice questions:
Example:
Child: “I get it.”
SLP: "You already got it or you will get it now?”
Target: Complex sentences:
Child: I like that.
SLP: Why do you like swimming?
Child: Cool me off.
SLP: Oh, you like swimming because the water cools you off.

(Cleave & Fey, 1997; Fey, 1986; Girolametto, et al, 1996).