Re: Communication Devices

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/17/2003 9:44:35 AM US Mountain Standard Time,

KathyEverett@... writes:

> School is really being instrumental in getting her to use the device now.

>

Oh, I'd like to hear how you are getting THAT to happen. As much as I tell

them,,, " The TALKER is his VOICE. " and tell them that it needs to be on his

desk at all times....they just don't want to use it. No one knows HOW to use it

because they don't buy into his need for it. We program it and work with

him. He is very good at using it when we make him, but he doesn't want to use

it

at school because it is different from what the other kids do. I think if

the teachers worked more with using it on a daily basis it would work. We had

it put in the IEP and one of the teachers emailed me saying... " I thought I

just had to use it for presentations! "

UGH!

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathy,

Maverick got an Alpha Talker in kindergarten. They used it at the charter

school he was at, but when we went back to the public school they wouldn't use

it. We had filed a due process to get him fully included so we picked our

battles and the talker lost out, but we did insist that anyone working with him

learn Signed Exact English.

His speech has improved, but he is no where intelligible to a stranger..

often not even to me. We have Title XIX which pays for private speech therapy

here at home and his therapist worked with us and got the Vantage. The school

therapist also worked with him this summer through DDD so she is aware and

impressed with how quickly he is picking it up. It's just a matter of getting

the Classroom teachers. Now, our home therapist will go every other week to the

school and work with them and that should help. At least this aide isn't

afraid of it!

Interstingly, since he has been using the talker his LANGUAGE has improved so

much. He now uses sentences like, " I want to listen to the radio. " Where he

USED to say.... " I listen radio. " When he pushes the buttons we insist that

he use them all for sentence structure and it's helping! He is also using ing

and ed endings appropriately. You still can't understand him, but when you

do it's awesome! LOL.

[Guest guest]

I don't know much about Go Talk -I looked at it and it doesn't look

fun -doesn't look like it's made for a 2 year old I mean. It may be a

good idea in some cases but can tell you that over the years most of us

don't need to start augmentative and alternative communication for

preschool aged apraxic -speech impaired children. You can use toys at

this age which is probably a bit cheaper -and more fun. (can't do that

when they get a bit older!) Here's an archive:

Re: IEP/therapy/ot/AAC

We tend to think of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

devices as either simple like sign or PECS -or complex like high end

expensive devices -but keep in mind if you purchase a stuffed animal

that says " I love you " when you squeeze it's paw and your late

talker child picks it up and brings it to you (mommy -daddy-grandma

etc.) squeezes the paw so the stuffed animal says " I love you " and

then smiles and gives you a hug -that's also using AAC -and it's a

beautiful thing! Tanner loved using toys that talked when he was

essentially nonverbal -we had all the Sesame Street and Barney

talking stuffed animals. Back then he even loved Furby who 'he' had to

teach to

talk!! There are

still tons out there -and since we've recently talked about Piglet's

Big Movie -as well as potty training -what about... Mini Talking Pooh!

http://www.toycentre.com/acatalog/Pooh_Corner.html

High end AAC for a three year old isn't common -or yet anyway. It

would probably depend on the child's situation and frustration

level. Also in most cases for preschool children if he or she is

home -most likely the child's immediate family is able to interpret

what the child's needs are by interpreting verbal attempts/nonverbal

cues. In

fact

researchers and many SLPs are aware of a parent's ability to

interpret their speech impaired child (or whoever spends most of the

time with the child)

Here is an interesting article I found about using AAC on preschool

children

http://www.hdc.lsumc.edu/Programs/IT/csun.wpd.htm And here is a cut

and paste from this article about the use of voice output AAC

devices for preschool children:

" ...A multiple baseline study evaluated the effects of using voice

output devices to facilitate communicative initiation behaviors of 2

toddlers who were developmentally delayed and nonverbal. Data were

collected during snack time on specific communication behaviors.

Both toddlers increased their specific initiations (communication

attempts that can be identified for a particular item or action). No

formal training was provided. Adults modeled the use of the device

within the context of the routine. Comparisons with a typically

developing peer suggested the voice output device enabled both

toddlers to increase their specific initiated communication behavior

closer to that of the peer. Results support the use of augmentative

voice output devices with nonverbal toddlers. "

=====

[Guest guest]

My child's speech therapist also pushed for AAC. But I was reluctant

because we had already started some signing and with that he was

thriving. I felt sign was better because for my son- it was still his

ability- and I felt that somehow it would trigger the words in his

brain- like when he tries to speak the word at the same time as

signing it- then it builds a connection associated with the sign-

accessing a different part of the brain that maybe isn't damaged? Was

all just theory for me, but I felt it was really working for my son.

We've continued on with sign- and he got a sign 1-1 aide in the class

with him and since then his verbal has increased 10000 fold. It's

amazing!

So just wanted to put that out there-- maybe you have already

considered sign, I don't know.

When we were looking at devices- the tango by blink twice really

looked neat. My therapist had some salesmen from the company other

than that- that they were wanting him to use to come evaluate Liam and

try to talk me into him using this device- but all the words they were

showing me he could use on the device, he could already sign. And I

felt like the guy was a used car salesmen or something- trying to push

this on me even though it was obviously not the best fit for my son. I

talked to my son's therapist about the Tango but she didn't think it

was a good fit. I'm glad we ended up with sign.

I hope you find the right situation for your child- go with your gut

and don't be afraid to say no to people!

Sorry I don't have much advice- if you haven't already thought about

using sign- think about it.. and maybe check out the tango by blink

twice.. it looks like a really neat set up- easy to use, fun, and even

hip. it has a camera on it! the voice that it uses is really cute

too ! of course there are more important features but i think those

are important too.

[Guest guest]

Is there a PROMPT certified therapist near you?????

That is the only therapy that helped my 6/7 year old daughter to begin to

talk..

Roxanne

_____

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of cmcsweeney3

Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2008 2:55 PM

Subject: [ ] Communication Devices

Speech therapist was going over different communication devices other

than PECS. " Go Talk " was a device that she thought may be beneficial

since the child touches the picture and then the device syas the word

so the child is still hearing the word being said.

My daughter was diagnosed on the autism spectrum and apraxia.

The only word she says is bye at 2 1/2. She is very vocal just not

actual words. She knows everything I ask her such as show me the

giraffe or where's the apple.

So, let me know if you have thoughts on which system would be the most

beenficial.

[Guest guest]

My son, scott, just turned 5 and was just fitted with a springboard

light. It is a very user friendly device that weighs 2.5 lbs. Still

pretty heavy for little kids but they are finally getting them

smaller. The nice part about the springboard is it can be programed

from your computer and the information can be downloaded onto the

device very quickly, so the child is not without it for very long.

Goos luck.

>

> Speech therapist was going over different communication devices other

> than PECS. " Go Talk " was a device that she thought may be beneficial

> since the child touches the picture and then the device syas the word

> so the child is still hearing the word being said.

>

> My daughter was diagnosed on the autism spectrum and apraxia.

>

> The only word she says is bye at 2 1/2. She is very vocal just not

> actual words. She knows everything I ask her such as show me the

> giraffe or where's the apple.

>

> So, let me know if you have thoughts on which system would be the

most

> beenficial.

>