Re: Augmentative Communication and Speech Therapist

[Guest guest]

How old is Nate?

Sounds like under 3.

Confirm that your insurance will cover speech after age 3 when the school district is supposed to pick it up first....and if your speech therapist is amazing, then I would consider missing some in lieu of speech...the truly great ones are hard to come by.

If he is under 3, I am amazed and impressed that they are recommending Augmentative communication! That is very progressive and forward thinking!

, Mom to 14, DS, Southern CaliforniaTo succeed in life,you need three things:a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone.~ Reba McIntyre

Diagnosis Down Syndrome: A Site of Hope for New Parents or Parents with a Prenatal Diagnosishttp://www.leeworks.net/DDS/What to Say to Parents of a Child with a Diagnosishttp://www.leeworks.net/DDS/speech.html

Augmentative Communication and Speech Therapist

I need some advice, experience and guidance. One of the speech therapists on Nate's team has recommended augmentative communication. She thought a tech talk might be a good place to start, but my other ST thinks we should start at a little higher level because Nate will quickly outgrow the tech talk. Nate signs well with a vocabulary exceeding 40 words at the present. He also speaks some basic words and animal sounds. The rationale is to give him every opportunity to communicate as he is starting early childhood education in the fall. Any feedback???If anyone has any of these devices and would consider lending, let me know too.Also, we are looking for a ST that will be able to continue with Nate when he leaves EI. Preferably someone that is in the Blue Cross Blue Shield network. Our present ST has very limited hours that will clash with Nate's school schedule. Thanks in advance for the input.

[Guest guest]

What area of the country do you live in? My Nate started in the

Early Childhood classroom this Fall (turned 3 in Sept)...I haven't

counted exactly how many words he is saying now days but his SLP was

initially going to use some PECS with real pictures for him but we

have it on hold because they have no problems undersanding him and

his needs in the classroom and would prefer him to be verbal vs rely

on a communication system. At age 3years 4months his language is

explodingin the classroom once we increase his classroom days to 3

half days per week at the end of November and he became comfortable

in the classroom. I am surprised if your child is only about 3 they

would suggest Augmentive communication...however I do not know your

Nate and what is best for your child. I will share with you one

moment in time in one classroom that Nate and I did a visit in

deciding on preschool class for him. (They used an augmentive

communication device to say the morning hellos and all the kids used

it in place of verbally speaking, including the typical developing

classroom peers. When it was Nate's turn he said hello and the SLP

told him no press the button...then he pressed the button and said

hello too! He was the only one of the 8 kids in the classroom to use

his own voice...needless to say I was not impressed and I choose a

different classroom placement for him in a language classroom (There

are 4 model peer students and all the other children are language

delayed only.)

Expressive language for children with Down syndrome on average takes

off between ages 4-6 for children with Down syndrome according to

Libby Kumin. A typical developing child the age is 2-4 and would we

use Augmentive communication devices for them when they are already

starting to speak and use some sign language? It sounds like your

Nate is right on schedule and a lot will change from today till this

Fall.

Sorry I cannot assist you with information and advice on augumentive

communication devices...I have no real experience.

Sherry

Mom to Nate(3)

[Guest guest]

As an SLP, I have to let you know that a communication device (augmentative

communication) will not impede or replace or stop a child's speech development.

If the

child has speech (verbal output), the communication device (whether it be PECS,

a low

tech device or a computer device) will support language development and allow

the child

to express more than his speech may allow him. As many of you probably know,

comprehension exceeds expression in kiddos w/Ds, so the device can allow the

child to

express more of what s/he understands than they may be able to with speech

alone. I

worked with a 3 y.o. boy w/Ds who used a Go Talk 4 in certain activities, and he

often also

spoke after the voice output of the device. He had very little speech but

demonstrated her

knew a lot with PECS and his Go Talk 4. It also facilitated his involvement and

social

interactions in the classroom and with his peers. Another thing with aug. com is

that it

does not have to have a voice output (where it says something aloud), such as

PECS (which

is just pictures and the child chooses one and hands it to the communication

partner). But

a voice output provides a model.

Anyway, the main point I wanted to share is that if you choose aug comm you are

not

stopping or preventing or delaying your child's speech development. Research has

shown

that children prefer to use speech more than a device (it's economical!) AND

that a device

can support speech development. So, the device or system can supplement the gaps

in

communication. They are NOT mutually exclusive but can support overall speech

and

language development. Aug comm is great! and it is fantastic that the SLPs are

starting the

kiddos young to support and encourage any and all communication!

Please feel free to email me privately if you have any more specific concerns or

more

questions or would like access to some of the research I mentioned earlier. I

hope I was

not confusing but helpful!!

>

> What area of the country do you live in? My Nate started in the

> Early Childhood classroom this Fall (turned 3 in Sept)...I haven't

> counted exactly how many words he is saying now days but his SLP was

> initially going to use some PECS with real pictures for him but we

> have it on hold because they have no problems undersanding him and

> his needs in the classroom and would prefer him to be verbal vs rely

> on a communication system. At age 3years 4months his language is

> explodingin the classroom once we increase his classroom days to 3

> half days per week at the end of November and he became comfortable

> in the classroom. I am surprised if your child is only about 3 they

> would suggest Augmentive communication...however I do not know your

> Nate and what is best for your child. I will share with you one

> moment in time in one classroom that Nate and I did a visit in

> deciding on preschool class for him. (They used an augmentive

> communication device to say the morning hellos and all the kids used

> it in place of verbally speaking, including the typical developing

> classroom peers. When it was Nate's turn he said hello and the SLP

> told him no press the button...then he pressed the button and said

> hello too! He was the only one of the 8 kids in the classroom to use

> his own voice...needless to say I was not impressed and I choose a

> different classroom placement for him in a language classroom (There

> are 4 model peer students and all the other children are language

> delayed only.)

> Expressive language for children with Down syndrome on average takes

> off between ages 4-6 for children with Down syndrome according to

> Libby Kumin. A typical developing child the age is 2-4 and would we

> use Augmentive communication devices for them when they are already

> starting to speak and use some sign language? It sounds like your

> Nate is right on schedule and a lot will change from today till this

> Fall.

> Sorry I cannot assist you with information and advice on augumentive

> communication devices...I have no real experience.

>

> Sherry

> Mom to Nate(3)

>

[Guest guest]

Wow... thanks for all the input.

Nate is 2yrs and 7 months. We live in the Northwest burbs of Chicago and he

will start early

childhood in the fall. My school SLP also said exactly what you did Spritely.

I think we will

use it. Nate tries to use his voice all the time and mimics some sounds that

his SLP does. He

says Dada very clearly, moos, baas, does the elephant sound and signs in excess

of 35

words. We just want to give him another chance to communicate.

I'm thinking of asking for an evaluation with Easter Seals so we can get the

ball rolling. He

ages out of EI in June.