Treatment of Children With Speech Oral Placement Disorders (OPDs): A Paradigm Emerges

Abstract

Epidemiological research was used to develop the Speech Disorders Classification System (SDCS). The SDCS is an important speech diagnostic paradigm in the field of speech-language pathology. This paradigm could be expanded and refined to also address treatment while meeting the standards of evidence-based practice. The article assists that process by initiating a clinical exchange of ideas on the topic of speech treatment. It explores: (a) the treatment of children with speech oral placement disorders (OPD; a new term suggested by the authors), (b) the various types of speech oral placement therapy (OPT) used to treat OPD, (c) the relationships of OPT to current motor learning theories and oral motor treatment, as well as (c) the critical need for appropriately designed, systematic research on OPT.