“Key Words” uses VAST videos to support best-practices in delivering speech therapy for acquired Apraxia and/or non-fluent Aphasia.

As a core offering in our VASTtx series, the Key Words app is designed for users to learn and practice the basic motor speech patterns necessary to produce all of the consonant phonemes. VAST Key Words uses an innovative application of video technology that allows the user to see a close-up video of a model’s mouth while listening to the auditory stimulus. The app also contains a detailed guide for integrating this material into a speech therapy program.

Therapy approaches for Apraxia of Speech emphasize producing a sound using an auditory model and most importantly, a visual model, followed by practicing the sound in word and phrase contexts. The VAST videos in this app allow users to see the movement while hearing the sound by itself, then in a key word and finally in a phrase.

It takes many repetitions of a sound in order to gain voluntary control. The design of the Key Words app allows users to do just that: hear it, see it, and practice it over and over again.

Treatment for acquired apraxia can be very difficult. The VASTtx series of apps provides speech language pathologists some innovative tools to use in therapy that are supported by decades of clinical experience. Speech professionals may incorporate these apps into their clients’ lesson plans, offering additional practice and support outside the clinic.

The content and procedures contained in this app were developed by Darlene Williamson M.A, CCC-SLP, the founder and executive director of the Stroke Comeback Center. She brings more than 25 years of clinical experience, with specific expertise in motor speech disorders. The VAST program was developed and piloted under her direction. It has evolved over 3 years, through clinical trials and feedback from many other speech language pathologists.
App Features:
-VAST videos using professionally-trained models
-In-depth guide for SLPs to assist in implementing this app into their practice
-Contains all consonant sounds in a carefully chosen order
-Structured playlist samples – “sound family” lists and samples for contrastive practice
-Randomized practice to challenge the motor speech system
-Build customized playlists, tailored to the user’s needs

SpeakinMotion has spent considerable time developing the guidelines, tutorials and video material so that professionals and individuals can be successful using the VAST Key Words App.