59. Challenge Creates Change: Why Complex Speech Targets Lead to Faster Progress

In speech therapy, we often focus on quantity—how many times a child should produce a treatment target correctly in a session. But research (and lived practice) shows that quality and complexity of the treatment target matter even more. In this episode, I share: ✅ Why complex treatment targets (like paragraphs) accelerate change faster than simple word reps ✅ Two studies I conducted with graduate students showing greater gains with fewer repetitions ✅ How paragraph-level practice boosts language, executive function, and speech simultaneously ✅ Why therapy should look more like high-intensity interval training (HIIT) than rote drilling ✅ How challenge creates change—and why children thrive when pushed to higher-level goals Stop counting reps and start focusing on meaningful challenge. 👉 Want my downloadable complex treatment target paragraphs plus cutting-edge weekly activities? Join the SIS Membership today: https://www.kellyvess.com/sis