Effective therapy for Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) begins with the right targets. This one-hour session provides clinicians with a clear, research-based framework for selecting and prioritizing therapy targets within the Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC) approach. Participants will learn how to choose targets that promote movement, coarticulation, and prosody, the building blocks of speech motor learning.

Using video examples and practical case discussions, Jennie Bjorem will demonstrate how to identify functional, motivating, and developmentally appropriate targets based on a child’s current sound repertoire and movement patterns. The session emphasizes quality over quantity: how a limited, well-chosen set of targets can drive faster progress and more natural speech outcomes.

Clinicians will leave this course with actionable strategies, planning templates, and the confidence to design CAS therapy sessions that are both effective and engaging.

1. Explain the role of target selection within the DTTC hierarchy and its importance in achieving motor learning outcomes.
2. Identify criteria for choosing effective therapy targets based on the child’s sound repertoire, syllable shape inventory, and functional communication needs.
3. Design a target list that supports movement transitions, coarticulation, and prosodic variation.
4. Apply target selection strategies in play-based, high-repetition practice using the principles of motor learning (PML).