Reply to When did you transition for late talker to non verbal?

Forum Index » Kids With Special Needs and Disabilities

Reply to "When did you transition for late talker to non verbal?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]You should absolutely investigate supports for kids who don't use speech, they have so many benefits for kids but 2.5 is way too young to conclude that because he doesn't have speech now he never will.

AAC strategies have been shown to increase verbal language so it is not an either or.[/quote]

What is AAC?

I am wanting to make sure we guide the speech therapy sessions in fruitful directions. We started PECS at home- turned the side of our island into a PECs board. He seems to be really latching onto the idea.[/quote]

AAC is augmentative and alternative communication strategies.  It's a wide range of strategies to supplement (augment) or replace spoken language.  It includes enhanced natural gestures, and sign languages, and picture boards, and communication books, and high tech devices.  Anything that allows someone to communicate a specific message without using speech.

PECS is an AAC strategy, but it's a pretty limited one.  It's really best for kids who do not have established communicative intent, and need to be taught very explicitly that communication involves a partner and a message.  Many kids don't need that step, and can jump right into more robust systems, like Speak For Yourself which was mentioned earlier.

A good communication book (e.g. a PODD book which is one type that is particularly well regarded) or communication app (like Speak for Yourself, or Proloquo2Go, or Clicker Communicator, or many many others) or device (something that's kind of like an iPad or tablet, but that is designed specifically for communication and just holds that one program) will give your child access to far more words than you can put on the side of the island, and will let them use them in more varied ways.  The place to start would be an AAC evaluation with someone who can help you select the right tool, and put together a plan for using it across your child's day.

Also, you should note that many people think of AAC as "giving up" on speech, but that couldn't be further from the truth.  For some kids, the visual organization of a communication book or device, plus the consistent modeling and the ability to play with language that a book/app/device gives them, is what makes oral language accessible.  For other kids, they'll never use spoken language but the device will allow them to communicate without it.
[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics