Want to know what’s going on with vocalic /r/ and The Entire World of R™ ? Look for the latest news, events and goings on.
Say It Right Named a Finalist for The Creative Coast Alliance’s 2009 Innovation Awards.
Say It Right was selected as one of three finalists for the small business category for The Creative Coast Alliance (TCCa). Read more. . .
Over 2000 Pennsylvania SLPs Attend “Got /r/ Problems?” Workshop
Pittsburgh, PA–March 9, 2007. Close to 2000 Pennsylvania speech-language pathologists attend a one-day workshop on remediation /r/, using The Entire World of R™ phonemic approach to /r/ remediation methodology, and sibilants articulation disorders presented by Christine Ristuccia of Say It Right™.
How do you fit 2000 SLPs in one room?
It was done remotely via teleconferencing. The workshop sponsored by the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN http://www.pattan.k12.pa.us/) , the training branch of the Bureau of Special Education in Pennsylvania , which has a number of teleconferencing sites around the state of Pennsylvania. Christine presented as part of the Speech and Language Professional Development Series which is hosted via teleconferences for SLPs, special educators and parents throughout the year. More information on the training can be found at http://www.pattan.k12.pa.us/files/Flyers07/Speech030907.pdf.
Confirming the interest speech-language pathologist continue to have in good /r/ solutions–especially with the difficult vocalic /r/–this was one of the largest audiences to ever attend training.
“The audience was the largest since I’ve been at PaTTAN,” according to Cassie Budzilek, M.A. CCC-SLP, Educational Consultant for the PA Training and Technical Assistance Network and coordinator of the workshop.
“These numbers (2,000) really confirm the interest and need for good /r/ solutions,” says Christine. “I was really nervous being in front of a TV camera, but the SLPs really responded favorably to concepts in The Entire World of R™, so it was worth it.”
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Graduate Programs Receive Latest Information on Treating [r] Articulation Disorders from Say It Right
Tybee Island, GA. –March 9, 2007. Quick, what’s one of the most persistent and difficult articulation disorders to treat? Which disorder is the most frustrating for school-based speech-language pathologists (SLP)? Did you say. . . [r]? Yes, little ol’ [r] has many SLP’s pulling their hair out. Treating [r], however, just got a whole lot easier recently for aspiring speech-language pathologist students at all US university and college programs. Each graduate program specializing in communicative disorders recently received a donation of the latest updates to The Entire World of R™ program from Say It Right™.
The instructional packages donated to each school included The Entire World of R™ Book of Elicitation Techniques, The Entire World of R™ Advanced Screening, and The Entire World of R™ Say & Sequence Playing Card System. The value of each donation was $115 for each school. Nationally, the donations totaled over $30,000; quite substantial for a company the size of Say It Right, which has only one full-time and two part-time employees. These materials, recently published, are the result of thousands of hours of research and development into treating vocalic [r] by Christine Ristuccia, President and Founder of Say It Right. As a collection The Entire World of R™ program represents the latest state-of-the art expertise in evaluating and treating [r] articulation disorders, particularly for the persistent vocalic /r/.
“SLP’s are clamoring for effective techniques that work,” says Christine Ristuccia, “I’ve traveled all over the US and it’s the same chorus—give us something that works. We’ve done the homework including extensive research; it works. I feel compelled to get this information out and share it so therapists can benefit from the knowledge. We felt giving it away to graduate schools was the most efficient way.”
The secret of The Entire World of R™ program, according to Ristuccia, is that [r] is treated as 32 separate allophones or sounds and treatment is centered on phonetically consistent practice. Traditionally [r] was treated as just another consonant but the vocalic properties really change pronunciation depending on usage and context. “Previously, treatment was haphazard and progress sporadic.” says Ristuccia. “That led to everyone’s frustration with [r].”
In one survey conducted by Say It Right™ of over 100 school-based SLPs (K-12), it was found that nearly 1 in 5 students (18.6%) on caseloads was [r] related. Most SLPs reported treating [r] as both one of their most difficult tasks and most frustrating to perform. Not surprisingly, SLP’s reported that training on the subject was lacking.
“The Entire World of R™ program is extremely helpful if you have a lot of students with /r/ problems on your workload since it quickly and effectively pinpoints exactly where you need to begin your treatment, even if you are evaluating students who have been in articulation therapy for many years,” says Natasha Anderson, speech-language pathologist at the UTD Callier Center for Communication Disorders in Dallas, Texas. “In fact, the other supervisors and I have been so impressed with this program, we have not only introduced it to the student clinicians we supervise, but also to our colleagues in the schools who were previously unfamiliar with this approach. Although my graduate school curriculum did include information on how to evaluate and treat children with /r/ difficulties, this program has greatly accelerated my abilities to remediate even the most chronic students with /r/ problems. I wish it had been available when I was in school. ”
Founded in 1999 and located on Tybee Island, GA, Say It Right™ publishes a range of speech-language and special education products including workbooks, reading books, games, and software. Christine Ristuccia has many years of experience in the field of speech-language pathology. She has worked primarily with elementary and middle school student, but has experience with preschoolers and adults. Having presented at over 20 different regional, state and national speech association meetings Christine Ristuccia is a recognized expert in [r] articulation disorders. She currently works part-time for Chatham County Schools in Savannah, GA. Say It Right™ is available on the web at www.sayitright.org.
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Say It Right Launches “Entire World of R Blog”
Tybee Island, GA. –March 28, 2007. Got a question about The Entire World of R? Perhaps just want to know more about treating vocalic /r/? Maybe you are a parent with a child with an “R” articulation disorder? What to know the most appropriate product to buy? Got a success story you’d like to share?
The Entire World of R Blog is open for your comments and questions.
“Please share your questions and comments,” says Christine Ristuccia. “We get so many questions on vocalic /r/. Some are really specific, but you’d be surprised how many people have the same question. Many time’s people just need help in deciding what tools to get for treatment. Sometimes it’s parents looking for direction. We hope this forum can help people understand vocalic /r/ a little better.”
Click here and post your comments and questions.
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Christine Ristuccia interview with Linda Schreiber on SpeechPathology.com. Topic: Got R Problems? Learn about an Effective Phonemic-Based Approach to /r/ Remediation – April 9, 2007
Linda Schreiber: Good morning Christine. Thank you for being willing to be interviewed about your phonemic-based approach to /r/ remediation this morning. Let’s start by having you tell us a little bit about your background.
Christine Ristuccia: I have worked with elementary and middle school children and I’m presently working with preschool children in Head Start preschools and daycare centers in Chatham County, GA, where I live. I’m working with children who have phonological disorders, receptive and expressive language disorders, autism, and a wide range of preschool issues.
Schreiber: During your experience in the school setting while working with children, you saw a need for specific resources in the area of /r/ remediation. Tell us about that . . .For the complete interview Click Here.
I am the Speech Pahtologist at a high school. Next year, I will have a ninth grade female moving up from the middle school who misarticulates her vocalic /r/ sounds. I don’t have as much information as I would like, however, her previous SLP informed me that she is having the most difficulty with the “or” combination (among others).
I am feeling extremely overwhelmed, especially since this young lady has been in therapy for so many years, and seems to be getting “burned out” on the whole idea! Any suggestions for where to start and possibly some new and more excited ways to treat her?
Thank you!
Lauren,
Funny but within 3 minutes of getting your post I got this e-mail from another SLP:
“…I want to let you know that although I’ve only used one (advanced Screening Form) so far, it has already helped me to see where I need to go with one particular 15 year-old, and has helped her to see that her problem isn’t as big as she thought. Way cool !!!!!!”
The single best step is to do a complete evaluation using the Entire World of R Advanced Screening. This will really help you determine exactly which /r/ sounds are deficient. You might find that all [or] combinations are lacking, but you also might find some positions and contexts which are more successfully produced.
Good luck.
I am 24 and still have problems with my R’s.
I found one website that mentioned lowering the jaw and just moving back the tounge tip from the ‘l’ position. I think this may have helped, but is there any other advice for an adult looking to solve R articulation?
Ka,
There are my “tips” and “tricks” available for the R sound.
I take a more wholistic approach to treating it, moving from one sound (within the sound) at a time.
The complete strategy is in The Entire World of R Book of Elicitation Techniques.
Have you talked with a speech-language pathologist about your problems?
How do I go about finding a professional who is familiar with The Entire World of R Book of Elicitation Techniques? I’m located in Texas zip code 75028.
Elizabeth,
We don’t maintain a referal network (yet). The best source is to use the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) referral site. http://www.asha.org/proserv/
You can type in your zip and child’s age. There are quite a few speech-language pathologist in your area. You’ll just have to contact them to find out if they use our program.
Good luck.