[Comparative analyses of the effectiveness of three different phonological therapy models].
BACKGROUND
phonological therapy in children with phonological disorders.


OBJECTIVE
to verify changes in the phonological system of children with phonological disorders, based on the comparison of number of acquired phonemes, number of sounds in the phonetic inventory and altered distinctive features, before and after therapy, and to verify differences between therapy models: Modified Cycles, Maximal Oppositions and ABAB--Withdrawal and Multiple Probes.


METHODS
the research group was composed of 21 subjects, 15 male and 6 female, with phonological disorders, who had already completed speech-language treatment. The initial and final phonological assessments were compared taking into consideration the number of phonemes in the phonological systems, the number of sounds in the phonetic inventory and the altered distinctive features. Phonological changes that resulted from the application of the three therapeutic models were also compared.


RESULTS
statistically significant differences were observed between the initial and final assessments in all of the three therapeutic models considering the number of acquired phonemes and the altered distinctive features, whereas in the phonetic inventory a statistically significant difference was observed only between the ABAB--Withdrawal and Multiple Probes and the Maximal Oppositions model. No statistical difference was observed between the therapy models.


CONCLUSIONS
the three therapy models were effective in the treatment of children with phonological disorders, once all of the children presented improvement of their phonological system, phonetic inventory and altered distinctive features. No significant statistical difference was found between the models
Mota
Helena Bolli
HB
Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. helenabolli@hotmail.com
Keske-Soares
Márcia
M
Bagetti
Tatiana
T
Ceron
Marizete Ilha
MI
Filha
Maria das Graças de C Melo
Md
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007807:Language Tests; D007808:Language Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D013062:Speech Articulation Tests; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors