Which statement best describes the final stage of the 8-step continuum?

• A. Independent production of utterances in role-playing situations
• B. Clinician-guided repetition of target phonemes only
• C. Reading sentences aloud without practice
• D. Singing tasks without articulation

Answer: (A)

In this framework, the last step aims for autonomous, functional communication in realistic contexts. Reaching this stage means the person can produce utterances on their own, without cues, and carry them through in role-playing situations that simulate everyday conversations. It shows that the motor speech skills have generalized beyond therapy tasks to real-life communication, with the speaker initiating and maintaining dialogue, choosing appropriate content, and producing clear articulation under typical social demands.

The other options reflect earlier or non-functional tasks. Repetition guided by a clinician keeps the focus on cueing rather than independent use. Reading sentences aloud without practice isn’t about spontaneous speech in social settings, and singing tasks without articulation doesn’t address everyday conversational speech or functional communication.