Hope. Knowledge. Heart
Columbia Motor Speech Therapy
Peggy M. Earnest, PhD, CCC-SLP
Pediatric Speech Language Pathologist
Contact me at 860-942-9662
peggyearnest@columbiamotorspeechtherapy.com
Office Location:
117 Route 66 East, Suite D
Columbia, CT 06237
What are MESS Books?
MESS stands for MASTERING EARLY SPEECH SEQUENCES. MESS books are a set of 22 books that target the earliest stages of motor speech development. MESS books are fun, colorful and relatable books. Each book contains repetitive text that focuses on a specific motor speech pattern. The books are divided into three sets, based on a hierarchy of motor speech control. The motor sequences targeted form the foundation for intelligible speech production! MESS books were designed to target important early motor speech skills and are appropriate for early speech intervention, preschool and early literacy development for children with speech delays. Each book contains suggestions for carry over of target skills in other activities as well. They are SLP and parent friendly and are a great addition to your speech therapy toolbox!
Set 1: Early Vowel Patterns
Set 1 contains 5 books, focusing on the first movements for motor speech development. The first two books are focused on jaw movement to shape sounds into early word approximations. The last three books focus on independent movement of the lips.
Set 2: Preferred CV Patterns
Set 2 includes 8 titles that build on the skills mastered during set 1, including early CV patterns that can still be relatively controlled by jaw movement. These include bilabial productions with central vowels, lingual alveolar consonants with front vowels and velar consonants with back vowels.
Set 3: Non-preferred CV Patterns
Set 3 includes 9 titles that work to help the child break away from jaw-driven patterns and begin to move the lips and tongue to add a greater variety of CV patterns. These include bilabial with front and back vowels, lingual alveolar with central and back vowels and velar consonants with central and front vowels.
Order your set of MESS books today!
The following will be included with your order:
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22 Books, divided into three sets
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A user's manual and introductory information about the books
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A summary of relevant research regarding early motor speech development
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A pdf assessment form will be emailed to you to help you determine appropriate starting points for MESS book use and motor speech therapy in general.
