Speech targets are introduced in “cycles”, short periods of focused practice that repeat over time. In each cycle, an error pattern is targeted for 60 minutes before moving onto the next error pattern. For example, if a child’s speech is characterized by stopping, backing and final consonant deletion errors, the clinician would work on one pattern for 60 minutes, then target another pattern for 60 minutes and so on, “cycling” through the child’s error patterns until the child’s intelligibility improves. This cyclical process allows children to gradually internalize patterns.

The Cycles approach, developed by Hodson & Paden (1991), is well-supported for children with moderate to severe phonological deficits. Research has shown its effectiveness in improving intelligibility over time (Hodson, 2007).

Hodson, B., & Paden, E. (1991).Targeting intelligible speech: A phonological approach to remediation (2nd ed.). Austin, TX: Pro-Ed/College Hill.