Re: assisted communication devices -- any advice? Springboard Lite? Others?

[Guest guest]

I was able to interpret Tanner when he was your child's age- and we used other

methods simple sign and PECS for example, and once speech came in he dropped the

alternative methods of communication. I know there is research that sign uses

the same area of the brain as speech so I highly recommend it as a first or

other option. I highly recommend more complex alternative communication for

older children that are still verbally impaired -for most in this group even

with severe apraxia they become verbal enough to not require one by the time

they are school age. Just not sure of all the pros and cons of using high tech

augmentative devices for 3 and under. We do hear about it time to time -but not

much:

Here's a huge archive with some messages from years ago:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~start of archives

Re: PECS Flash Cards

Hi Marjorie,

I know many of us made up our own simple versions of PECS -what

system was the SLP trying to push that was 200 dollars? BTW here's

a clip from The Late Talker book with free suggestions how to make up

your own PECS- and some links for free sources:

PICTURE EXCHANGE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM (PECS)

Another non-verbal mode of communication is picture exchange in

which illustrations are used instead of words. All the child has to

do is point at a picture icon to make himself understood. At its

most simple, you put together a book of picture symbols for your

child to carry with him. You let him decide the contents. One page

can be for breakfast items, another page for lunch, one for dinner,

one for drinks and desserts, and so forth. You can have pages of

faces showing different feelings, and pages for activities such as

reading a book, going to the park or the library, visiting

relatives, friends or the doctor, and going to the bathroom!

There are many places to find pictures. Online grocery stores like

www.netgrocer.com are ideal for food items, as are the Sunday

newspaper's coupon section and magazines. You can take photos, or

purchase picture cards from a number of sources. If you wish,

laminate the pictures to protect and strengthen them; glue food and

drink choices onto self-adhesive magnets and attach to your

refrigerator. But there's more to PECS than having a picture for a

glass of orange juice. It begins with the basic lesson that to get a

favorite item the child needs to hand over a picture of that item.

The child is then taught to create simple " sentences " such as, " I

want cookie. " From there, he learns to add clarity by using

attributes such as big/little, shape, position, and color. He also

discovers how to respond to simple questions, such as, " What do you

want? " before learning how to use the pictures to comment about

things around him: " I see a train! " " I hear a bird! " Many parents

(and some professionals) share the same concern expressed about sign

language; namely, that using a picture system inhibits speech

development. But there is no evidence of a negative outcome while

there is compelling support for the proposition that PECS encourages

speech.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~and from the net

On-line Picture Symbol Dictionary

" Includes a printable picture dictionaries - each with 26

pages in PDF format. One has a word for each picture, one

has room for the student to write each word, and one has a

missing letter in each word for the student to fill in. "

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/Dictionary.html

CLIPCASE Communication Board Idea

" This clipboard case is designed to hold papers and other

items inside. It has a clip on one end to keep the

contents from spilling out. "

http://www.aacintervention.com/ecase.htm

Do2learn

" Picture Cards, 350 different most in 3 sizes (Printable

ready to use communication cards/tools with & without

words)

http://www.dotolearn.com/picturecards/printcards/index.htm

A free website for symbol readers

http://www.symbolworld.org/

Picture Recipes

http://www.bry-backmanor.org/picturerecipes.html

Resource: Trainland.com

Pecs Pictures/Icons Pages

These pages are mainly standard size pecs pictures with

icons that are most commonly used.

(scroll to the bottom of page to click on links)

http://trainland.tripod.com/pecs.htm

=====

[Guest guest]

My 6 year old has had a device since the age of 4. I wish we would have gotten

one earlier. You should definately get an evaluation done by a speech

pathologist that specializes in AAC. They can help you find the device that is

the best fit for your child - and an evaluation is needed most of the time for

insurance purposes so it just puts you one step ahead in the process.

We went with Dynavox -

Ethan's Mom

Helping Parents of Children with Apraxia~

www.ethanslifewithapraxia.com

________________________________

From: Creager <lisad529@...>

Sent: Tuesday, May 5, 2009 7:43:59 PM

Subject: [ ] assisted communication devices -- any advice?

Springboard Lite? Others?

My 2.7 year old son has suspected speech apraxia with hypotonia and some mild

sensory issues. No cognitive deficit. We have had an evaluation by our EI

services and have been in contact with the state about an assisted communication

device. We are looking seriously at the Springboard Lite device. Do any of you

have any suggestions or feedback when looking at specific devices? It appears

that this is the kind of device that would be most appropriate for my son --

both now and to grow with a little bit. I don't know if there are any drawbacks

to the devices that I am not aware of.

[Guest guest]

definately get an evaluation done by a speech pathologist that specializes in

AAC. They can help you find the device that is the best fit for your child - and

an evaluation is needed most of the time for insurance purposes so it just puts

you one step ahead in the process.

I totally agree... A regular slp may not even know about aac. A new one just

came out that works with the itouch.

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Sharon Lang

> From: Humphreys <csljh2000@...>

> Subject: Re: [ ] assisted communication devices -- any

advice? Springboard Lite? Others?

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> Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2009, 11:34 PM

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> My 6 year old has had a device since the age of 4.

> I wish we would have gotten one earlier. You should

> definately get an evaluation done by a speech pathologist

> that specializes in AAC. They can help you find the device

> that is the best fit for your child - and an evaluation is

> needed most of the time for insurance purposes so it just

> puts you one step ahead in the process.

>

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> We went with Dynavox -

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> Ethan's Mom

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> Helping Parents of Children with Apraxia~

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> www.ethanslifewitha praxia.com

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> From: Creager <lisad529 (DOT)

> com>

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> @groups. com

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> Sent: Tuesday, May 5, 2009 7:43:59 PM

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> Subject: [childrensapraxiane t] assisted communication

> devices -- any advice? Springboard Lite? Others?

>

>

>

> My 2.7 year old son has suspected speech apraxia with

> hypotonia and some mild sensory issues. No cognitive

> deficit. We have had an evaluation by our EI services and

> have been in contact with the state about an assisted

> communication device. We are looking seriously at the

> Springboard Lite device. Do any of you have any suggestions

> or feedback when looking at specific devices? It appears

> that this is the kind of device that would be most

> appropriate for my son -- both now and to grow with a little

> bit. I don't know if there are any drawbacks to the

> devices that I am not aware of.

>

>

>

>