Can I make a referral?
Yes, anyone can make a referral for private speech-language therapy.
My child is only two years old. Why should he learn to use an augmentative communication system now? Why not wait until he is older and can communicate better?
Research tells us that an astounding amount of learning takes place in the first five years of life. Children start using "recognizable" language at around twelve months of age (if not sooner) as they learn more and more about themselves and their world (home) and the people in it - mum-mum, dad- dad.
If a child fails in his first attempts to communicate, frustrations can mount and confidence may never get a chance to bloom.
Expressing needs, wants and ideas and sharing fun and sorrow are basic human needs at all ages. If natural speech is not present, augmentative communication systems can often help - either by acting as a bridge until speech does develop, augmenting what speech is present, or by providing an alternative if speech does not develop.
He understands everything I say and I can understand everything he says. Why does he need an augmentative communication system?
Even though you may understand your child, chances are, most of the rest of the people he meets do not - people on the street, in stores, church, or preschool. Parents will not (and should not) always be there to translate. Being able to communicate with other people he meets each day is a big part of life and not just with adults but with children of his/her own age - something that is often underestimated and overlooked by adults. It is our job as parents and teachers to help young ones get along without us (literally, to work ourselves out of a job).
Keeping in mind
1) how important communication is to a full and meaningful life and
2) how much critical learning takes place in the early years, we see how important it is to give children with speech difficulties other ways of communicating and to enrich the skills they do have.
If my child uses augmentative communication will he slow down in his speech or stop talking?
Research shows many children will make gains in speech because AAC helps build successful communication. Sometimes parents, teachers, and other professionals are concerned that providing an alternative to speech for communication will further delay speech development. While it makes sense to have this concern, research studies have consistently shown that introducing alternative forms of communication does not reduce speech attempts, and in some cases, may increase speech attempts and improve speech production.
Here are two of the most often cited articles:
• "The Impact of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Intervention on the Speech Production of Individuals With Developmental Disabilities: A Research Review" by Diane C. Millar, Janice C. Light and Ralf W. Schlosser in Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, April 2006, Vol. 49, 248-264. doi:10.1044/1092-4388(2006/021)
• "Effects of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Intervention on Speech Production in Children With Autism: A Systematic Review" by Ralf W. Schlosser and Oliver Wendt in American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, August 2008, Vol. 17,
212-230. doi:10.1044/1058-0360(2008/021)
No one else he knows uses this form of language - won't this make him seem different when people see him use it? How common is it?
Yes, using augmentative communication will make him seem "different". However, the child is already different because of his difficulty using speech. The use of an augmentative communication system can make the difference between a passive child who does not take part in life, and an alert, lively child.
It has been the experience of many teachers that "speaking" friends and classmates are very interested in communication systems, and this is encouraged in schools. This can be a real boost to the self-esteem of the child using the augmentative communication system.
Furthermore, the equipment that is currently used looks age approriate. Friends and class mates often find it ‘cool’ to look at it together.
What is the best kind of AAC system to use?
There is no ‘best’ type of AAC system. Each system has its own pros and cons; the most suitable one for an individual will depend on their abilities, needs and personal preferences. Many people have more than one AAC method, and choose which to use depending on the listener and the particular situation.
My child sees a speech-language therapist through the public system. Can we 'go private' too?
Accessing private speech-language therapy does not affect your entitlement to public speech-language therapy. More To Say is a specialised AAC service that could reduce the waiting time for a client for a communication solution.