What is PROMPT?

PROMPT is an acronym for Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets. The technique is a tactile-kinaesthetic approach that uses touch cues to a client’s articulators (jaw, tongue, lips) to manually guide them through a targeted word, phrase or sentence. The technique develops motor control and the development of proper oral muscular movements, while eliminating unnecessary muscle movements, such as jaw sliding and inadequate lip rounding.

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How does it work?

We start by helping your child to produce phonemes (a phoneme is the smallest increment of sound in speech. For example, the “d” sound in the word dog is one phoneme, the “o” is another and the “g” is yet another). Each phoneme requires different muscle contractions/retractions and placement/movement of the jaw, lips, tongue, neck and chest to produce. All of these things have to happen with the proper timing and sequence to produce one phoneme correctly. These phonemes are quickly combined into words and phrases.

PROMPT is about integrating all domains and systems towards positive communication outcome. It may be used (with varying intensity and focus) with all speech production disorders from approximately 6 months of age onward. To achieve the best outcome with PROMPT it should not be thought of or used mainly to facilitate oral-motor skills, produce individual sounds/phonemes or as an articulation program but rather as a program to develop motor skill in the development of language for interaction.

Who is it appropriate for?

PROMPT therapy is appropriate for a wide range of clients with communication disorders. These include; motor speech disorders, articulation problems, dyspraxia, pervasive development disorders, cerebral palsy, non-verbal.

It is particularly aimed at people who are not able to achieve the appropriate placement for speech sounds using a “look at what I do & copy” method. It is aimed at those who need the extra visual and tactile-kinaesthetic cues that are integral to PROMPT.

What next?

An evaluation by a PROMPT-trained speech therapist is the only way to find out if using the PROMPT technique will be appropriate and beneficial for your child. Please give us a call to discuss if PROMPT is the right option for your child.