Use of lanyard with pictograms for speech disorder

[kelda]

Does anyone have any experience of using a lanyard with pictograms for a school aged child? My ds is five with a speech disorder. He has been given a set of pictograms around his neck by one of is therapists, mainly of use in school. I am surpised and concerned about a couple of things - being stigmatised for having pictures around his neck (including a toilet); he can usually ask for basic things such as the toilet/drink/; it seems to discourage him from speaking and there is the safety aspect.

I have already expressed my concerns to the therapist but she was dismissive.

ANy advice welcome.

I would absolutely share your concerns.

Does he use it/know how to use it?

Who gave it to him?

One of his therapists gave it to him in school, to help him cope with frustration. He does seem to be regressing in his behaviour - crying at night, very babyish at times. This is a new therapist and I'm sure that her intentions are good.

yes he knows how to use it, but I've noticed him pointing at it rather then talking, when he has been very capable of using the toilet at school for the past two years. Suddenly he is having wee accidents at school and that isn't normal for him.

It's not down to communication then. I'd say it is down to mental health issues or inadequately met needs.

Does he have support other than a lepers bell?

I'm so sorry. That was far too strong and also inappropriate as many of our children need obviously additional things.

I suppose what I meant was that it seems like a massive label for no purpose.

My son has speech disorder too and although I can see what the therapist is trying to do I don't think I would be happy about it. Apart from discouraging him to use words it marks him out as different for the other children and may be affecting his confidence.
I would say that I didn't want him to use it if it was me.

They used to make my ds sit on a green spot away from the other children at carpet time, so he knew where to sit and didn't touch the other kids.

When I found out about it I wrote a VERY strongly worded letter and it was removed.

I confiscated took the lanyard home quite quickly, but it's annoying that the therapist had already started to use it. I have already emaile dher with my thoughts on it but she didn't address my concerns. I get the feeling that she is not used to having a parent disagree with her.

We actually tried a pictogram book with him last year at school, and the teacher said that she can mostly understand the simple things he asks for, so didn't use it.

Jellyandjam - I think you are right - it might effect his confidence - and I'm wondering if it already has.

It's so hard to know what to do for the best.

What do you think he does need?

I don't think I'd be happy either - I have never heard of thiat before. I have to use a snap able lanyard at work in case I get strangled. My customers are 200 miles away on the phone so - I think it's also dangerous

Is your lanyard very very VERY long then 2Boys?

Or is it that you're expected to be strangled by your colleagues?

The use of a lanyard, and the use of symbols are two separate things really aren't they.

I think with any symbol or pictogram system, a child will only want/need to use it if the symbols chosen are relevant, useful and motivating. There's also a big issue in learning how to use them. You can't just expect a child with communication difficulties to magically know what to do with symbols.

So, in order for it to be useful for your son, you need to establish that:
a. symbols are the right way to go (as opposed to encouraging speech, signing, literacy based strategies, etc)
b. the symbols chosen are relevant and motivating for him.
c. the format is appropriate. Ie, do they need to be round his neck, hanging off his belt, in an appropriately sized book etc...

d. he has support in learning what the symbols mean, and how/when to use them.

It sounds as though something isn't quite right for him at the moment, but maybe with a bit of a think about it, some of what's in place might be useful for him?

I'm wondering as well if maybe the lanyard is an off the shelf type product? I've been in settings where staff wear that kind of thing around their necks for quick access when using them with students. They look quite shiny and fancy, but I'm not sure how useful they really are.

In my experience, symbol systems ONLY work when customised specifically for an individual child, and usually that kind of resource needs to be built up very carefully and thoughtfully over time.

I hope no one is going to assault me at work. They was replaced with with ones that snap in case you trip or get it caught. I think it's over kill as its a safe office job - but for a kid? They could catch it in anything. Wasn't there a toddler who was strangled on a slid not long ago? I would be worried he would hurt himself. Is it the snapping off sort? I hate all this over the top health and safety but in this case there's a real chance it could be caught and him getting hurt. Good intention but not well thought out I think

I don't even let my dd wear necklaces in case she gets it caught or another child grabs it. 'Nothing round your neck' is a rule we drum home.

Thank you. There doesn't seem to be much thought put into the pictograms. We tried pictograms last year but the teacher said he didn't use them, because his language has progressed beyond the basics.

The safety aspect is very significant, especially when you consider a lively group of 5/6 year olds in a play group with not much supervision (another issue). The lanyard isn't a real lanyard, it is just a piece of plastic string, it wouldn't break or snap off if if got caught. I rarely let my children wear necklaces, and then only on my supervision.

I have appointments next week with his SLT and teacher to discuss this and other matters regarding ds. The therapist who gave him the lanyard is someone else and she hasn't been there very long at all.