Therapy Guide

VAST was developed as an adjunct to a program called Mind Over Matter used at the Stroke Comeback Center to build basic motor memory. VAST takes the approach from a static visual stimulus to a dynamic model. The SpeakinMotion application provides a series of videos that can be used therapeutically to establish motor speech patterns.

Motor learning refers to a set of internal processes that can change with associated practice or experience. The principles of motor learning are applied to a specific treatment approach in order to maximize the benefit of the treatment. In VAST, the principles are applied to assist in re-learning speech motor skills.

The two basic principles of motor learning are the conditions of practice and feedback variables. VAST promotes the practice of motor learning by providing the user with the opportunity to determine the intensity of practice and the practice schedule, as well as to provide practice variability and incrementally complex tasks. The individual user (whether working with a SLP or working independently) moves through a series of speech tasks of increasing complexity, while receiving ongoing feedback.

The ability to perform purposeful movements is learned gradually and with much repetitive practice. The more modalities involved, the more valuable the practice. Multiple repetitions of an oral speech movement accompanied by visualizing, hearing, and experiencing the movement promote retention of the motor movement, and the ability to reproduce the movement volitionally. VAST provides simultaneous visual and auditory feedback in real time. By observing the movement, and simultaneously producing that movement, the benefits of motor speech learning are maximized.

The other critical component is feeling or experiencing the movement. It is important when using VAST therapeutically, to focus on how each of the speech tasks “feels” while saying it. Therefore, each of the tasks is repeated twice. The first production is intended for the user to listen, watch and get the feel of the speech segment, the second repetition allows the user to experience saying it themselves. With enough repetition of this practice sequence, the individual eventually makes the movement their own. This is the goal of guided motor learning and the goal of the Therapy section of the SpeakinMotion application.