A Case Study Investigating Therapy Methods Used by Speech Language Pathologists Working with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
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Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports 2021 A Case Study Investigating Therapy Methods Used by Speech Language Pathologists Working with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Julia Byers Van Volkenburg West Virginia University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd Part of the Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons, Speech and Hearing Science Commons, and the Speech Pathology and Audiology Commons Recommended Citation Van Volkenburg, Julia Byers, "A Case Study Investigating Therapy Methods Used by Speech Language Pathologists Working with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders" (2021). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 8344. https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/8344 This Dissertation is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by the The Research Repository @ WVU with permission from the rights-holder(s). 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A Case Study Investigating Therapy Methods Used by Speech Language Pathologists Working with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Julia Van Volkenburg Dissertation submitted to the College of Education and Human Services at West Virginia University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction Keri Duncan Valentine, Ph.D., Chair Allison Swan Dagen, Ph.D. Francene Kirk, Ed.D. Dennis M. Ruscello, Ph.D. Samuel Stack, Ph.D. Department of Curriculum and Instruction/Literacy Studies Morgantown, West Virginia 2021 Keywords: Speech Language Pathology, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Language Therapy, Creative Dramatics Copyright 2021 Julia Van Volkenburg ABSTRACT A Case Study Investigating Therapy Methods Used by Speech Language Pathologists Working with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Julia Van Volkenburg This study was an in-depth examination of the experiences of five speech language pathologists (SLPs) working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) during language therapy sessions. This case study aimed to better understand the various therapy techniques being used by the SLPs through interviews and a reflective journal kept by the researcher. It also sought to examine the ways those therapy techniques may have included creative dramatics. Through thematic analysis, major and minor themes emerged from the interviews. The main theme of the study was the importance of individualizing therapy for students with ASD. Individualizing therapy was supported by minor themes involving the severity of the child’s ASD, special interests of the student, and incentives for communication. The other main themes were temporality issues, counseling caregivers, and traditional therapy versus creative therapy. The SLPs identified interventions they used in their practice. They also discussed their most successful interventions and the interventions that were most enjoyed by their students. This study also investigated whether SLPs were using creative dramatics with students with ASD. Three of the SLPs interviewed were successfully using creative dramatics. Role playing was the most popular and successful creative dramatic therapy technique listed by the SLPs. Lastly, this study found a need for further research not only on the treatment experiences of SLPs during language therapy, but also exploring creative dramatics as a therapy intervention. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS It is with gratitude that I thank all who have helped me with this dissertation. First, I would like to thank Dr. Keri Valentine, the chairperson of my doctoral committee. She has been an invaluable mentor and advisor who has guided me through this process with her wisdom and dedication for my academic pursuits. I also want to thank my esteemed committee members, Dr. Alison Swan Dagen, Dr. Francene Kirk, Dr. Dennis Ruscello, and Dr. Samuel Stack for their patience, guidance, and support during my dissertation process. I am indebted to my entire doctoral committee. Words cannot articulate the appreciation I have for the opportunity to work with this tremendous group. I also want to thank my husband, Jeff Van Volkenburg, for his continuous encouragement, unwavering support, and love during this entire process. He is my inspiration for hard work to accomplish one’s dreams. I want to thank my parents, Judy and George Byers, for being the model of true educators and academics. I send them my gratitude for supporting my studies and for showing me the value of education. I want to thank my children, David and Juliana, for their hugs and love during this time. I want them to know that if they work hard enough, they can accomplish anything. I also want to thank my beloved dog, Zeus, who was by my side during long evenings of writing. Lastly, I want to thank my mother-in-law, Julie Van Volkenburg, for always encouraging me to pursue my studies. I want to recognize my friend, former colleague, and special educator, Beth Vincent. For years, at Jayenne Elementary we collaborated to maintain a language group for our students with ASD. We explored creative dramatic techniques and even put on plays in her classroom. It was a “golden time” for us, and experience that was life-changing for me as an SLP. iv Lastly, I want to thank my students for inspiring me to study ASD. They have made me a better SLP. I especially want to thank my first student with ASD, Sam, whose love for creative dramatics inspired me to pursue it further as an essential therapy technique. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................... iii LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................................... ix CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................1 Pilot Study ............................................................................................................................2 Background of Dissertation Study .......................................................................................6 Historical Perspective ..........................................................................................................7 Increase of Autism Spectrum Disorders ..............................................................................9 Lack of Research on Lived Experiences of Speech Language Pathologists .....................10 Current Efforts ...................................................................................................................11 Motivation for the Study ....................................................................................................13 Context of Study ................................................................................................................15 The Building Blocks Model ...............................................................................................16 Significance of Study .........................................................................................................18 Purpose of the Investigation...............................................................................................20 Research Questions ............................................................................................................21 Conclusion .........................................................................................................................21 CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................23 Background on Autism Spectrum Disorder .......................................................................23 Evidence-Based Interventions ...........................................................................................24 What is Creative Dramatics ...............................................................................................30 History of Creative Dramatics in Education ......................................................................33 Creative Dramatics Influence on Pedagogy .......................................................................37 Creative Dramatics Used with Students with ASD ...........................................................40 vi Conclusion .........................................................................................................................43 CHAPTER 3: METHODS .............................................................................................................45