It’s best to have a speech therapist administer the test to the child to ensure that the results are accurate. A therapist may also have another method of testing for child that they prefer.
The Kaufman Treatment Kit 1 is considered the basic level, and is geared toward children between the ages of 2 and 8. It targets the synthesis of basic sounds, such as /m, t, b, d, h, n, w, and p/. The Kaufman Treatment Kit 2 is considered the advanced level, and is geared toward children between the ages of 4 and 10. It targets the synthesis of sounds such as /f, g, k, l, s, and sh/. It also blends /s, r, and l/ sounds. If you’re choosing Kaufman cards to use at home, it’s best to consult with a speech therapist. Because they can evaluate your child’s speech difficulties, they will be best able to determine which Kaufman cards kit would work.
It’s best to start with smaller sets of cards until you know the amount that works best for the child.
Each Kaufman card lists several approximations of the word depicted on it. They’re listed successively in order of difficulty, with the easiest sound being at the bottom of the list. When you are first reading the cards to the child, you might simply read the full word and then the easiest approximation at the bottom of the list to avoid overwhelming them. You can move on to the other approximations in future sessions.
The reward should be simple, such as playing with a favorite toy or game. Make sure that the child understands what the reward is before you begin working with the cards so they have it in their mind as motivation.
If you are using the cards at home, talk to your speech therapist about how often you should have your child work with them. As you work through the cards, try to move along the speech approximations so the child gets closer to saying the actual word. Work slowly, though. You don’t want to frustrate the child by expecting them to do something that they’re not ready for.
This is often the most challenging part for children with speech difficulties. It’s important to be patient and allow the child time to recall the word or approximation. If the child struggles with a certain words or approximation, repeat it for them. Set those cards aside, though, so you can single them out for extra work.
Be sure to gear the reward toward the child. It’s important to know what their highly preferred activities are in order to devise the best way to reward them.
After the child completes the advanced Kaufman kit, completing the sessions without any cards or pictures is often the next step.
