The efficacy of the Mixed Up Marty Home Programme in resolving phonological delay and disorder

Background: Children with Speech Sound Disorders (SSDs) comprise the majority of paediatric Speech and Language Therapists caseloads. Current resource limitations lead to delayed intervention, increasing the risk for negative consequences for these children. A parent-implemented home programme could provide an evidence based therapy tool to be implemented immediately upon diagnosis of a SSD, specifically a phonological delay or disorder. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a parent-implemented home programme in improving the speech of children with phonological delay or disorder. Methods: Twelve children (aged 3;02 to 4;05) diagnosed with phonological delay or disorder alongside their parents participated in the study. Recruitment was on a voluntary basis. Following initial assessment, parents received two hours training in the administration of the Mixed Up Marty Home Programme. Efficacy was measured using a Pre-Post design comparing a widely used metric of speech accuracy, Percentage Consonants Correct (PCC) on the Diagnostic Evaluation of Articulation and Phonology (DEAP) and in a constrained connected speech sample elicited using pictures from the Renfrew Action Picture Test (RAPT). Six children received Treatment Now (Tnow) and six children acted as a control and received Treatment Later (TLater). The programme, consisting of input-based phonological awareness activities, was carried out over seven weeks. Results: Statistical analyses revealed the difference in PCC between groups was not clinically significant. Conclusions: Possible reasons for the lack of success were identified. These include programme content, severity of diagnosis, high levels of variability within the sample used and short administration time. The programme warrants modification and further investigation before being considered as a clinical tool in the treatment of SSDs.