Evaluation of Online Parent Training and Structured Home Practice for Children With Speech Sound Disorder

Abstract

Speech sound disorder (SSD) is one of the most common communication disorders in children, often requiring high-dosage treatment for remediation. Limitations, including clinician time constraints and large caseloads, highlight the need for innovative service delivery models to expand treatment access. This U.S. study examined the effectiveness of a hybrid model that incorporated parent training and home practice, compared with a telepractice only approach. Twenty-two children with SSD were randomly assigned to one of two groups: a business-as-usual group receiving twice-weekly telepractice sessions, or a parent training group receiving once-weekly telepractice, with parents participating in online training and home practice. All sessions used a Speech Motor Chaining approach. Both groups showed significant improvements in speech sound accuracy from pre- to posttreatment, maintained at a 2-month follow-up, with no significant differences between groups. Findings suggest that a hybrid model involving parent training and home practice may be a viable alternative to high-frequency therapy.