The Cycles Approach is a strategic and systematic way of teaching language skills to children difficulty producing speech sounds. A phonological process is when a child replaces one sound for another. For example, when a child replaces the /k/ or /g/ sound for /t/ and /d/, this is a phonological process called “fronting”. There are several phonological processes that children may utilize during development to simplify the motor plans of speech.
What Is the Cycles Approach?
The Cycles Approach is a speech therapy option that was developed by Barbara Hodson. It follows a cyclical pattern, targeting each phonological process for a short amount of time. This approach is meant to reflect the gradual process of phonological development in children.
What makes the Cycles Approach so unique is that it allows therapists to individualise therapy for each child. This approach is also very time-efficient, as therapists can work on multiple phonological processes at once.
Benefits of the Cycles Approach for Speech Therapy
The Cycles Approach is different from other speech therapy methods in that it targets phonological processes for a short amount of time. The goal is to eliminate phonological processes from the child’s speech. This approach is meant for children who have multiple phonological processes.
The main benefit of the Cycles Approach is that it is highly effective in reducing or eliminating phonological processes from a child’s speech. In addition, this approach is systematic and organised, which makes it easier for both the child and the therapist to understand and follow.
Key Elements of the Cycles Approach
The Cycles Approach is an effective speech therapy option for kids that has three key elements:
- It’s adaptable to many types of speech sound disorders, making it a versatile tool that can be tailored to each child’s specific needs.
- The approach is based on the natural cycles of speech development, which helps children feel more confident and motivated as they make progress.
- The Cycles Approach is designed to be a collaborative effort between parents and therapists, fostering a partnership that helps the child reach his or her full potential.
How to Structure a Cycles Approach Speech Therapy Session With Kids
When you’re ready to start using the cycles approach with your kids, there are a few things to keep in mind in terms of structure.
Each session should be divided into three parts: assessment, intervention, and review.
The assessment phase is where a speech pathologist will take a look at what skills your child has and identify any areas that need work.
The intervention phase is when we actually start working on those areas. This is where the cycles approach will be utilised.
And finally, in the review phase, the therapist go over what was accomplished in previous sessions and set goals for the next ones.
Case Study: The Results of Using the Cycles Approach With a Child
In a study by Kiewra, et al. (1991), the Cycles Approach was used with a four-year-old boy with a hearing loss and severe phonological disorders. The child had been in speech therapy for two years and had made little progress.
After using the Cycles Approach for six months, the child showed drastic improvements. He was able to produce more sound combinations and his speech was intelligible to strangers 75% of the time.
This study shows that the Cycles Approach can be extremely effective for children with severe phonological disorders. It is an approach that is definitely worth considering if you are looking for ways to help your child make progress in speech therapy.
Conclusion
If you’re a parent of a child who is receiving or needs speech therapy, it’s important to be familiar with the Cycles Approach. This method has been shown to be an effective way to help kids with their speech and language development.
If you’re looking for a speech therapy method that is tailored to your child’s needs, the Cycles Approach is a great option.
