My Experience With PROMPT Training
Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with the PROMPT Institute!
One of my 2014 resolutions was to take an Introduction to PROMPT course. I can check this one off my list! The course was 3 days long and it was INTENSE.
If you’re not familiar with PROMPT, it stands for Physically Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets. It is a multi-dimensional approach to motor speech skills that uses tactile and verbal cues. It is designed to help those with motor speech disorders, but can also be used for articulation or phonological disorders.
The introduction course is 3 full days – that is about 6.5 hours each day of information coming at you. As someone who gets overloaded with a lot of auditory information, this was a bit challenging sometimes. You’re also learning a new motor skill yourself (i.e. learning all the different prompts – there is a different one for each phoneme) so it can be overwhelming at times.
There were 3 instructors who circulated the room and answered questions, corrected, your hand placement, gave tips, and did the PROMPTs on you so you could feel them. They go over the methodology behind the approach as well.
First, you delve into the theory behind PROMPT. Then you learn the PROMPTs and how to go about assessing and planning for treatment. There is another level of training that you can take once you’ve been using the method for awhile.
You’re taught some of the PROMPTs (there are different levels) and then you’re given time to practice on each other. I definitely felt clumsy at first and it’s somewhat awkward to be invading someone’s personal space that much. Though after 3 days, you get used to it. I think everyone feels this way, so at least you’re not alone!
My Recommendations:
-bring hand sanitizer (they tell you this and our instructors had some, but I also brought my own)
-bring a highlighter
-bring pencils/pens (I like to write in pencil for these types of things)
-wear comfortable clothing
-cut your nails short on your dominant hand
-don’t feel bad if you don’t feel at ease with it right away!
If you’re interested in taking a workshop, visit their website here.
I feel that it is another tool that I now have in my “speech toolkit.” I have started using it with my preschoolers and have seen some results. It’s great for the early developing sounds! I don’t have too many kids with apraxia on my caseload, but I have used it with the ones that I do. I will say that some of my kids are highly resistant to me touching them, so that sometimes complicates things.
First, you delve into the theory behind PROMPT. Then you learn the PROMPTs and how to go about assessing and planning for treatment. There is another level of training that you can take once you’ve been using the method for awhile.
You’re taught some of the PROMPTs (there are different levels) and then you’re given time to practice on each other. I definitely felt clumsy at first and it’s somewhat awkward to be invading someone’s personal space that much. Though after 3 days, you get used to it. I think everyone feels this way, so at least you’re not alone!
My Recommendations:
-bring hand sanitizer (they tell you this and our instructors had some, but I also brought my own)
-bring a highlighter
-bring pencils/pens (I like to write in pencil for these types of things)
-wear comfortable clothing
-cut your nails short on your dominant hand
-don’t feel bad if you don’t feel at ease with it right away!
If you’re interested in taking a workshop, visit their website here.
I feel that it is another tool that I now have in my “speech toolkit.” I have started using it with my preschoolers and have seen some results. It’s great for the early developing sounds! I don’t have too many kids with apraxia on my caseload, but I have used it with the ones that I do. I will say that some of my kids are highly resistant to me touching them, so that sometimes complicates things.
Thank you so much for posting this description of your experience with PROMPT. I am debating signing up for the course and your information was really helpful. Best of luck incorporating PROMPT into your practice!
You’re welcome, Amy! I debated it for quite awhile – it is expensive! I didn’t know what I was really walking into, so I was hoping to let people know more details!