The usefulness of the Enhanced Milieu Teaching Procedure in toddlers with severe communication and language disorders in the clinical context

Abstract

This study shows the results of a naturalistic intervention procedure called Enhanced Milieu Teaching Procedure (EMTP) as an intervention methodology in two toddlers with severe communication and language disorders. We use the intervention procedure within some specific and special conditions: a) toddlers didn´t fulfill the optimal characteristics suggested for applying EMTP; b) we introduce a novel training stage at the end of the intervention procedure, which consisted in a speech and language therapist training the child. Hancock & Kaiser (2009) suggested several optimal conditions for the success applying EMTP; The child must be verbally imitative, must have at least ten productive words and between 1-3,5 mean length of utterance. The two toddlers showed an increasing progress in their communicative productions, moreover those productions became wide spread in naturals settings (home and school). The EMPT is effective even in toddlers with severe communication impairments and without the suited prerequisites suggested so far.