Down Syndrome, Apraxia, Dyslexia, CAP, ASD, DHH, ADHD: WTF - Where's The Focus?

Without a doubt, Down syndrome, Apraxia, Dyslexia, CAP, ASD, DHH, ADHD are distinctly different conditions. There are, however, specific symptoms that relate to them all: the underlying inability to process auditory and visual stimulus related to speech and language, otherwise described as, incapability to focus. This presentation will look at the results of research that relates to three of these populations, Down syndrome, Apraxia, and Dyslexia, to support the necessity of multimodal approaches to therapy. The subsequent focus of this

presentation will be to explore how multimodal tools can improve focus for speech sound production and literacy for all populations.

Audience participation will be used to demonstrate the basic methods for multimodal instruction and methods to improve auditory and visual focus utilizing evidence-based multimodal programs and tools. These are multisensory programs that incorporate visual, tactile, kinesthetic, and proprioceptive techniques that augment the auditory modality and reinforce the correct movements for speech. By implementing these approaches we improve functional neurological pathways for motor planning and speech sound sequencing. We will examine how using these tools can improve phonological awareness and hierarchically create a bridge to spelling and reading. These will include, PROMPT (Hayden, 2005), Visual Phonics (Wang, 2013), and FONEMZ: Speak and Read (Pieretti, 2015). The importance of vowels as the primary elements in speech correction will be included in a discussion of Vowel Tracks (Marsalla, 2007).

Learner Objectives

At the completion of the presentation, attendees will be able to:

1. Analyze how poor auditory focus affects the production of speech sounds and literacy skills of students with Down syndrome, Apraxia, Dyslexia, CAP, ASD, DHH, & ADHD.

2. Identify five of the best practices of teaching which improve focus.

3. Appraise and apply the use of multimodal tools in various activities for teaching speech sound production and reading to individuals with Down syndrome, Apraxia, Dyslexia, CAP, ASD, DHH, & ADHD.