Hold Up Your Fingers to Count Repetitions

Full transcript

Hi, Nicole here, coming in from the NYU Motor Speech Lab with a Monday tidbit. You know how when you're doing motor speech therapy with children, you have to get multiple repetitions of the target word in a block? It can be challenging to keep the kid going with you. And how do you cue for multiple repetitions without actually stopping and breaking up the repetitions?

One thing I do that has been super helpful and successful is I'll hold up the number of repetitions I want them to do. In this case, it would be five. I say the target word, "bee," they say "bee," and I put my hand down, or I'll have them put my hand down. So they have an understanding of what the expectation is, without me having to constantly say, "Do another one, do another one," and interrupting the flow.

The other thing I do that's really fun, and that gives them feedback, is a little clicking. So they say "bee," and I'll go, "Bee, bee." They find it fun. It gives them that feedback, like they got the task done. And this is how I keep them motivated. I might even say, "Okay, another round, five to get ten." Now, some kids you might not be able to get that much, but this becomes a really nice visual and auditory reinforcer.

Thanks. See you next time.