By Christine Ristuccia, M.S. CCC-SLP When qualifying students for /r/ intervention, it is important to begin with a formal assessment, such as the Goldman Fristoe Test of Articulation.  This test gives limited data about which specific /r/s have been mis-produced.  I recommend utilizing the Entire World of R (EWR) screening tools to specifically identify which /r/ has been mis-produced. Below is an example of a summary of the EWR screening....

Common Errors for /r/ Use the Entire World of R Book of Elicitation Techniques and the Entire World of R Advanced Screening to determine /r/ misproductions Sound Common errors Expected age of mastery prevocalic /r/ substitution of w/r as in wed for red age 5 prevocalic /r/ substitution of v for /r/ Never acceptable  at any age. vocalic /r/ vowelization ca for car age 5 initial /r/ blends cluster reduction –...

It is progress report time.  How will you report progress to teachers, parents and administrators?  The first and easiest way I find to do this is to keep daily progress notes for each student.  When I do this, the notes and percentages are right in front of me.  How do I keep progress for vocalic /r/?   I use the baseline results page found in the Entire World of R book of Elicitation Techniques and in the Entire World of R Advanced...

  Say it Right began 2013 with early detection/intervention month.  Research has shown that the speech-language intervention initiated at a younger age necessitates fewer treatment units than if initiated in later years the less  time is required to master speech and language goals.  (Jacoby, et al, 2002).  It is important to begin intervention for /r/ no later than 7. 5 years because the majority of the 32 /r/ sounds have been acquired...

I am often asked what the ideal age is to begin intervention for /r. I would love to give you a definite answer, however it really depends upon the child. Life is not like that! Some kids may be ready at age 5 years and others when they are 8 years. I always like to follow my approach about facilitating /r/ rather than teaching it. If you administer the EWR screening and find a correct production then the child is ready for intervention. If not...