DIGGING DEEPER: An Evidence-Based Motor Speech Treatment Protocol

Dates and Times: Jan 14 and Jan 15 2027, 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

Instructional Level: Introductory

Target Audience: Speech-Language Pathologists or CDAs/SLPAs with experience in assessing and treating motor speech disorders

Location: Synchronous Live Webinar on Zoom (Link to be sent to participants 2 days before course start date)

ASHA CEUs: 1.0 (mandatory to attend all days to receive CEUs)

Early Bird Rate:
Before Dec 14, 2026
$650 CAD | $500 USD

Standard Rate:
After Dec 14, 2026
$800 CAD | $600 USD

Groups of 5+:
Per Person
$500 CAD | $400 USD

We will send you an email with information regarding payment of registration fees. Complete the registration only if you have plans to register and attend both days.

Short Course Description

This workshop offers in-depth training on Motor Speech Treatment Protocol covering speech sound disorders, atypical movements, and the Informal Tool for Early Motor Speech assessment. It includes practical strategies for goal setting, cueing, motor learning, and parent involvement, with case studies and Question and Answer session for hands-on learning.

This workshop provides comprehensive training on Motor Speech Treatment Protocol (MSTP). Day one starts with sessions on speech sound disorders, atypical speech movements, and the Informal Tool for Early Motor Speech (ITEMS). Participants will learn to identify and assess atypical speech movements and apply the ITEMS tool through case studies. Day two focuses on effective MSTP intervention, including goal setting, prioritization, cueing strategies, motor learning principles, and parent involvement. Each topic is explored through case studies and practical strategies, with opportunities for discussion and Q&A.

Customer satisfaction is a top priority at the Speech and Stuttering Institute. As a customer, it is your responsibility to pay the necessary fee and supply a credit card for fee payment.

Complaint Policy: Please send an email to SSIASHA@speechandstuttering.com and include a detailed summary of your questions, comments, and/or concerns you may have, along with your full name and contact information within 30 days of course completion.

Cancellation Policy: You may place cancellations by emailing SSIASHA@speechandstuttering.com For a full complaint + cancellation policy, see here

Primary Speaker Bio and Disclosures

Debra Goshulak, M.H.S.C., Reg. CASLPO, S-LP (C)

Debra Goshulak received her Master of Health Science from the University of Toronto. Following graduation, she presented her research paper at ASHA. Subsequently she has presented at multiple conferences and workshops at the community, provincial and national levels. Debra is also a certified PROMPT instructor and has conducted PROMPT workshops for many years. She has participated in numerous published research projects and has received multiple awards for her research and clinical work in motor speech disorders. While working at the Speech and Stuttering Institute, she developed the ITEMS (Informal Tool for Early Motor Speech).

Debra Goshulak has the following relevant financial and non-financial relationships to disclose:

Financial Relationships

  • Independent contractor for The Speech and Stuttering Institute, Toronto, Canada
  • Consultant – The Speech and Stuttering Institute, Toronto, Canada

Non-Financial Relationships

  • Facebook Group Administrator – PROMPT Instructors
  • Member of Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC)
  • Member of College of Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO)

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, attendees will:

  • Identify three features of atypical speech movements.

  • Apply the ITEMS tool to assess early motor speech development.

  • Create effective treatment goals for children with motor speech disorders.

  • Implement principles of motor learning to improve intervention efficiency.

  • Describe 4 components the motor speech treatment protocol.

  • Demonstrate the use of cueing strategies to support production accuracy.

Certificate of Completion Requirements
To get the Certificate of Course Completion and/or ASHA CEUs, course participants must:

  • Attend the full duration of the course (attendance will be tracked automatically).

  • Complete a test based on learning outcomes and receive a score of >80%.

  • Complete a post-course online program evaluation survey.

DEADLINE: Complete the test and post-course program evaluation survey by Feb 26th, 2026 – 11:59 PM EST

Two-Day Agenda:

9:00 – 9:05 – Registration and Welcome (5 mins)

9:05 – 9:55 – Speech sound disorders and speech motor development

This section discusses the types of speech sound disorders, particularly motor speech disorders and stages of speech motor development will be covered.

9:55 – 10:40 – Identifying atypical speech movements

This section discusses the observation and interpretation of atypical jaw and orofacial movements in the context of speech motor development will be discussed.

10:40 – 10:55 – BREAK (15 min)

10:55 – 12:20 – Identifying atypical speech movements (continued)

12:20 – 13:05  – LUNCH BREAK (45 min)

13:05 – 14:20 – ITEMS (Informal Tool for Early Motor Speech)

This section discusses an informal tool to guide and organize a clinician’s observations of a child’s jaw, facial, tongue, and sequential movements using a single-word repetition task. Discussion with case studies.

14:20 – 14:35 – BREAK (15 min)

14:35 – 15:20 – ITEMS (Informal Tool for Early Motor Speech) (continued)

15:20 – 15:30 – Q & A followed by wrap-up of the day (10 min)

Components in Motor Speech Therapy

Day two will cover components of effective MSTP intervention with case study examples.

9:00 – 9:05 – Registration and Welcome (5 mins)

9:05 – 11:05 – I. Goals Selection and Prioritizing

This section discusses setting motor speech goals, prioritizing speech subsystems, choosing core vocabulary and goal progression using several case studies. 

11:05 – 11:20 – BREAK (15 min)

11:20 – 11:40 – I. Goals Selection and Prioritizing (continued)

11:40  – 12:25 – II. Cueing Strategies

This section discusses multi-sensory cueing strategies and fading cues.

12:25 – 13:10 – LUNCH BREAK (45 min)

13:10 – 14:20 – III. Motor Learning Principles

This section discusses the main principles of motor learning and clinical activities (e.g., games and books) that will maximize speech motor learning.

14:20 – 14:35 – BREAK (15 min)

14:35 – 15:20 – IV. Parent Participation

This section discusses parent/care-giver participation in intervention, building parent/care-giver skills and monitoring of parent/care-giver-child interactions.

15:20 – 15:30 – Q & A followed by wrap-up of the day (10 min)

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