DTT vs VB

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I'm hoping I can get opinions from others parents:

For the last few months we'd worked with a VB consultant (very

limited, but seeing progress). The VB consultant never really got our

program off the ground; however, the consultant we interviewed

yesterday thinks our little one is more in need of DTT than VB at the

present despite the fact that she is non-verbal.

I'm not an educator and am very new to all this ABA, DTT, VB, RDI

stuff and quite frankly it is exhausting and simply overwhelming.

Everyone seems to be touting this method or that and sometimes we are

just out and out confused. We are not sold on any one technigue or

method and are looking for the best program for our daughter. It's

very difficult to know where to hang your hat and to feel confident

it is the right approach. At the same time, we feel forced to go with

something in lieu of having nothing at all and depending on the

county program - we know that would be a big mistake. However, we

don't have time or money to waste on consultants or therapies that in

the end produce little results.

If I'm interrupting the consultant correctly, she wants to focus more

on DTT in the beginning and then later bring in VB. My concern is

that we've already spent the last few months getting my daughter to

imitate vocally....before she was not able to do that...and although

it's not much, it's a step in the right direction and I'd hate to

lose what little progress we've made.

Our daughter is very bright I'd like for us to work on not just one

or the other...can't we do both: employ DTT to teach cognitive goals

& fine motor goals while at the same time implementing a VB program

for her receptive/expressive communication goals or is there

something I'm missing?

I think we did lose some of the benefits of DTT (in learning

cognitive goals) and saw our daughter's progress slowed in those

goals while working with the VB consultant. Did we just not get the

right picture from the VB consultant. Is this new consultant's idea

of wanting to delay VB until later - valid or wise? My daughter is

now 3.5yrs old. We've been anquish for her to gain speech. She is

signing more and more, but we normally still have to prompt her for

the sign. Her self-motivated manding is not strong.

Recently we purchased some signing dvd's from Signing Time. My

daughter loves them and has since started signing more without being

prompted.

I'd like to hear what others think.

Thanks,

S. Brewster