What is the 'integral stimulation' approach to treating AOS?

• A. A therapy approach where the clinician models the target and the patient imitates, using multi-sensory cues with progressive cueing and practice.
• B. A pharmacological intervention to enhance motor learning.
• C. A purely visual cueing strategy without modeling.
• D. A melodic intonation therapy technique.

Answer: (A)

Integral stimulation centers on eliciting speech through active demonstration and guided imitation, using multiple sensory cues and a ladder of prompts that gradually fade as the person improves. The clinician models the target word or phrase, and the speaker is encouraged to imitate with immediate practice and feedback. By combining auditory, visual, and sometimes tactile cues and by progressively reducing cues as accuracy increases, this approach helps re-establish the motor plans and sequencing needed for accurate speech production. It’s specifically used for apraxia of speech because it treats speech as something that can be re-learned through model-and-imitate practice with rich, guiding prompts. The other options don’t fit because they either rely on medications, omit modeling, or apply a therapy design intended for other communication disorders.