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Vibration and Speech
02.22.07 An item on a yahoo phonology group recently described clinical investigation in which vibration was used on the cheeks, lips and neck to determine if it might have a positive effect on speech. The therapist tested her clients' speech on words, applied the vibration, and then tested their articulation on words again. Three children with apraxia were tested. Only one showed any change.
My response is as follows: This is ridiculous. This is like testing a child's ability to ride a bike, then applying vibration to his legs, and then testing his ability to ride a bike again to see if the child's bike riding skill got any better. The child's skill should NOT be any better. Vibration is being applied without any real understanding of the purpose for using it.
Vibro-tactile stimulation can have various effects, even opposing effects, on the body depending upon how it is used. Vibration can facilitate muscle contraction as well as muscle relaxation. It can aid a client's understanding of his body scheme or it can confuse him. Vibration can help him differentiate one body part from another, or it can make his lack of skill in that area even worse. Vibration also can excite or calm a client's arousal system, making him more or less attentive and organized. And vibration can have a profound effect on vestibular processing, helping or hurting him in his need to process vestibular stimulation better.
Vibro-tactile stimulation CANNOT cause phonemes to appear magically out of thin air. SLP's should NOT be using tactile and proprioceptive stimulation techniques unless they know WHY they are using them.
This knowledge is gained through study of development, disorders, assessment and treatment of motor skills. Courses on neurodevelopmental treatment and sensorimotor integration should be sought.
Readers new to this area might consider beginning with Kranowitz, C. (2005) The Out-of-Sync Child. NY: Penguin.