Functional Guide

The Functional videos provided in the SpeakinMotion application are intended to provide users with a means of immediately applying VAST to communicate in their environment. Any Functional video can also be approached as a therapeutic task, but the Functional videos are intended to facilitate the automaticity of connected speech. By providing a precise visual and auditory model that has been recorded with the prosody of “normal” speech, users maximize their speech production capabilities.

Users should feel the rate and rhythm of the video and internalize it, while simultaneously producing the speech motor movements. The three components of seeing, hearing and feeling the pattern and movement of normal speech promote automaticity and promotes the ability of users to speak the script, even when it is lengthy and complex. Additionally, when a script is personalized, it allows individuals to practice use speech that is meaningful to them in their daily lives, that assists in every day communication, and that generalizes to spontaneous production of speech segments. The Funcional videos provided in the app were selected as mere samples for the vast possibilities for day-to-day communication needs.

It has not yet been determined how much practice is necessary to successful use a Functional video. This factor seems to vary greatly: some individuals can actually speak a script on their first try, others require extensive practice to become successful. As the community of users grows and we are able to collect feedback we hope to be able to isolate variables that either lead to success or are a barrier to success - ultimately driving towards a more optimal practice schedule. It is recommended that users of the Functional videos practice until they feel comfortable and confident and have internalized the flow of the pace and pattern of the video.