This approach uses pairs of words that vary on multiple dimensions (voice, place, and manner) to create wide-spread change for the child's phonological system.
This is appropriate for moderate to severe speech disorder with consistent phonological errors and phoneme collapse (5+ sounds are substituted for 1 sound). Children who are 3-9 years old, have at least 6 sounds in error across 3 different manner classes of sound production. This approach can also be appropriate for children with speech delay-otitis media with effusion and speech sound disorders of known origin (cleft palate, Down Syndrome, etc.).
Contrast a known sound with 2-4 unknown sounds. The inventervention process will include the following phases: familiarization, imitation, independent production in play/drill-play, and conversation.
Download Multiple Oppositions Handout Here
3 sessions per week, aim for 50+ trials per session for 10 weeks.
Lee, S. S. (2018). The treatment efficacy of multiple opposition phonological approach via telepractice for two children with severe phonological disorders in rural areas of West Texas in the USA. Child Language Teaching and Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265659018755527
Storkel, H. L. (2022). Minimal, maximal, or multiple: Which contrastive intervention approach to use with children with speech sound disorders? Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, 53(3), 632–645. https://doi.org/10.1044/2021_lshss-21-00105
Williams, A.L., & Sugden, E. (2021). Multiple Oppositions Approach. In Interventions for Speech Sound Disorders in Children (2nd ed., pp. 61-90). essay, Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.