Maximal Opposition Contrast Therapy
Major focus area
Speech Therapy -> Phonology
Short description
A therapy method using the concept of distinctive features in which the SLP chooses word pairs that have target sounds that are most different. Differences vary along two dimensions: 1) The number of unique features that differentiate between the two phonemes and 2) The nature of the features; major or nonmajor class features (Gierut, 1989).
Long description
A therapy method using the concept of distinctive features in which the SLP chooses word pairs that have target sounds that are most different. Differences vary along two dimensions:
1) The number of unique features that differentiate between the two phonemes and
2) The nature of the features; major or nonmajor class features. This is similar to minimal opposition contrast therapy in that minimal word pairs are used as the beginning unit of training. However, target sounds are selected by having the most number of differences in production features and you choose two sounds that are NOT in the patient's inventory. The SLP works through the selection process of sounds present and not present in the patient's inventory, and you identify the major class difference. If a patient does not have /r,l,k,g,s,z/ 2 appropriate target phonemes would be /l/ and /k/ and you would create minimal pairs such as: lane-cane, leg-keg, and lamp-camp.
Method:
1) Discussion of words
2) Discrimination testing/training
3) Imitation/Production Phase
4) Carryover Training
(Gierut, 1989)