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ADDRESSING THE COMMUNICATION NEEDS OF BEGINNING

COMMUNICATORSKaren B. Haines M.S., CCC/SLP

Teaching Associate ProfessorDepartment of Communication Sciences and Disorders

West Virginia University

DISCLOSURES

• Non Financial – None• Financial – Paid to prepare and deliver presentations

WHO IS THE BEGINNING COMMUNICATOR???

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APPLYING NORMAL DEVELOPMENT TO AAC

• AAC progresses from:– Spontaneous behaviors with no intent

• Perlocutionary Stage

– To intentional communication via undifferentiated behaviors• Illocutionary Stage

– To intentional communication via intentional signals• Locutionary Stage

NORMAL SPEECH AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT

BIRTH TO THREE MONTHS

• Hearing and Understanding– Startles at loud sounds– Quiets or smiles when you talk– Seems to recognize your voice. Quiets if crying

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BIRTH TO THREE MONTHS

• Talking– Makes cooing sounds– Cries change for different needs– Smiles

HAYDEN 2 MONTHS

HAYDEN 3 MONTHS

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4-6 MONTHS

• Hearing and Understanding– Moves eyes in direction of sounds– Responds to changes in your tone of voice– Notices toys that make sounds– Pays attention to music

4-6 MONTHS

• Talking– Coos and babbles when playing alone or with you– Makes speech-like babbling sounds, like pa,ba, and mi.– Giggles and laughs– Makes sounds when happy or upset

HAYDEN 4 MONTHS LISTENING

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HAYDEN 4 MONTHS

HAYDEN 6 MONTHS

7 MONTHS TO 1 YEAR

• Hearing and Understanding– Turns and looks in the direction of sounds– Looks when you point– Turns when you call her name– Understands words for common items and people – words like

cup, juice, and daddy– Starts or respond to simple words and phrases like “No,”

“Come here,” and “Want more?”

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7 MONTHS TO 1 YEAR

• Hearing and Understanding Continued– Plays games with you, like peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake– Listen to songs and stories for a short time

HAYDEN 9 MONTHS

HAYDEN 9 MONTHS

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HAYDEN 9 MONTHS

7 MONTHS TO 1 YEAR

• Talking– Babbles long strings of sounds, like mimi, upup, babababa.– Uses sounds and gestures to get and keep attention– Points to objects and shows them to others– Uses gesture like waving bye, reaching for up and shaking his

head no– Imitates different speech sounds

• Says 1 or 2 words,like hi, dog, dada, mama, or uh-oh. This will happen around his first birthday, but sounds may not be clear

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HAYDEN 9 MONTHS

HAYDEN 10 MONTHS

HAYDEN 10 MONTHS

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HAYDEN 11 MONTHS

HAYDEN 12 MONTHS

HAYDEN 12 MONTHS

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THE FIRST QUESTION YOU MUST ANSWER IS:

WHERE IS THE CHILD FUNCTIONING???

• ASSESSMENT

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GOALS OF ASSESSMENT

1. What are the communication needs?2. What are the current receptive and expressive

communication levels?3. What is the cognitive functioning level?4. What are the hearing, vision and motor skills?5. What level of support is available6. How motivated is the individual?7. What features are needed?

IS THE INDIVIDUAL WITH COMPLEX COMMUNICATION NEEDS:

• Presymbolic?• Minimally Symbolic?• Symbolic?

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TABLES FROM:

• Tables from:– Exemplary Practices for Beginning Communicators: Implication

for AAC

By Joe Reichle, David R. Beukelman and Janice C. Light

GENERAL SUGGESTIONS FOR WORKING WITH PRE-SYMBOLIC CHILDREN

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IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER

• Children become communicators because we treat them that way

• There is a mutual modification in the behavior of the infant and mother – modifies the others behavior

• Start as young as possible• Look for strengths not weaknesses• The environment must be structured to allow for

communication opportunities

RESPONDING TO SPONTANEOUS SIGNALS

• Early attempts at communication occur at random and are not intentional.

• If these random communications are treated as if they have meaning then the individual gradually learns to produce them with intent.

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OUR ROLE IS TO:

• Expand communication at the current level– Perlocutionary – partner perceived– Illocutionary – beginning of intentional communication through

undifferentiated behaviors

And……

OUR ROLE (CON’T)

• Encourage development to move from one stage to the next– Perlocutionary (partner-perceived) to illocutionary (beginning of

intentionality)– Or– Illocutionary (beginning of intentionality) to locutionary

(symbolic)

COMMUNICATION MODES FOR PRE-SYMBOLIC CHILDREN (PERLOCUTIONARY & ILLOCUTIONARY)

• Eyegaze• Gestures

• Vocalizations

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COMMUNICATION MODES FOR MOVING FROM MINIMALLY SYMBOLIC TO SYMBOLIC (ILLOCUTIONARY TO LOCUTIONARY)

• Eyegaze• Gestures

• Vocalizations• Objects

• Entry Level Voice Output Devices• Textured Symbols

• Photos