Page 24 - SEN113 SEN Magazine July-August 2021-V3

Communication Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Jenny Herd explains how non-verbal communication can be a vital skill. 24 Having a child with no functional speech creates challenges and issues that are not always easy or straightforward to resolve. Many parents feel under- supported, with the implications of their childs’ communication impairments not being properly understood or provided for in too many situations. Children’s speech and their progress Typically, children as they develop will start babbling by 12 months, use about 20 words by 18 months and around 50 words, plus some short two-three word phrases, by 24 months where they will understand 200-500 words. (I CAN - “Ages and Stages”) However, not all children will follow this pattern. They may not be able to babble and then progress to speech sounds, so they will already be well behind their peers in terms of expressive language by the age of two. “Neural pathways for language development” They may understand as many words as other children of the same age, but if they are not able to try out words clearly, or at all, then they do not get any active consolidation and the neural pathways for language development may be affected. Ultimately if they are not able to use words clearly, they cannot communicate with their families, or anyone else in their lives, and it is not possible to gauge what level of word knowledge they actually have. What does AAC look like? AAC is the term used to describe methods of communication that can supplement, or replace, speech. This can be needed as the result of physical disability, a learning disability, developmental delay, or illness/accident. Whatever the reason, giving a child a method to learn to communicate, to interact with their family and peers, express their thoughts and views and to access education is vital. AAC can include simple, no-tech systems such as gestures, facial expression and pointing at pictures, paper-based symbols or spelling boards, through to high-tech computer based “speaking” devices which can be accessed by touching a screen, by eye gaze (looking at the desired word/letter/picture) or by pressing switches to “scan” or scroll through what is displayed on the screen. Is it all about the technology? The single most useful thing to establish, in whatever way possible, is a consistent “yes” and “no” for individuals. This ■ AAC in action. SEN113 senmagazine.co.uk