VOCA (voice output communication aid)

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My ds has been introduced to this at school this week and it is the first time I have heard of it. (It's an electronic box with pecs symbols on which says the word when the button is pressed) I saw his teacher today and she says the school is going to lend him a spare one to use at home with just a few simple symbols (drink/biscuit)so that hopefully we can all get the hang of it. The feeling is that as he is so resistant to using normal pecs cards but adores the computer, this could be something that gives him the confidence to try and communicate his needs.

I just wondered if anyone else's child uses one, how useful/easy to use it is. I think it's great and can't wait to try it out but am slightly worried about whether it would encourage or discourage speech in the future.

Btw ds is non-verbal autistic, 4 years old. I would love to hear of any experiences of the voca just so I have an idea what to expect.

It won't discourage speech, all communication aids encourage speech (whether signing, PECs, VOCAs or something else). This is just one type of VOCA, there are many and some very sophisticated. A friend of mine's daughter uses something called an Alphasmart which is like a tiny laptop with a full keyboard and some short cuts. We tried the type you describe but felt it wasn't appropriate as DS does use PECs and this device doesn't give sentence construction or exchanage. If he likes it though it will be great and could lead to him communicating with a proper keyboard eventually, if he doesn't develop speech. VOCAs have generally been associated with physical disability in the past (much like signing) but there is a growing number of people with autism and other learning disability who are using them.
There is an organistation called Communication Matters that is very involved in VOCA users and information, Google for them.

sounds really good!

Hi All. A friend of mine sent me your messages to see if I could add value. My eldest is 16 years old now finalised with a diagnosis of Global learning delay with autistic tendancies and aspraxic (if I can spell it!). He can communicate but cannot speak, now due to muscle issues with brain/mouth connection but previously because of the autistic issues - there was no reason to! We did not have PECS in his day and he was introduced to Makaton and Rebus in order to encourage him to communicate. His first speech box was a new world to him. He actually could control a conversation instead of having people translating or trying to predict what he wanted. As he used it and it responded i.e. do you want coke or milk and he could choose, he started to use signing to a greater degree. I do know of other children who have spoken - it seems to break through the barrier of 'cause and effect' and encourage the child to take responsiblity.
I have just been successful in obtaining a Speech Aid for my son using the funding provided by the CASP project. Additionally I use the ACE Centre in Oxford for a full speech therapy assessment in the speech aids area - they are the centre of excellence and knowledge, who your speech therapist will probably be using. Additionally there is a charity called ASPHASIC (I hope that I have spelt that correctly) which was set up for non verbal children over 15 years ago and I think still operational.
In my experience it is worth it. Do be warned that once they found 'cause and effect' it can be a little repeatitive - but that is where your speech therapist will help with expanding vocab etc. It will also take time - you may find he just presses everything and then settles to others. Finally if the child is able to speak they will. One autistic boy used his as a comforter and carried it everywhere and used it to speak for him when he became overwhelmed. In my son's case, it opens the opportunity for him to have choices and at the end of the day, some independence - whatever the means! Hope my comments help. All the best

The ACE Centre is where Communication Matters is based. They do a good newsletter with lots of info. If he likes it there's also all sorts of computer programs with voice output, a whole new world! I'm impressed that you have been given this device so readily, its usually parents telling each other and struggling to get professionals to agree to it

Thanks everyone, you've got me quite excited now and I can't wait to get started!

Davros, I am impressed as well. Ds has only been at the school for a few weeks and they have been wonderful. Nothing is too much trouble and after all the worrying about which school to choose, will he settle in etc it is such a relief!

BJmum i hope this doesnt sound patronising but it is nice to hear from mothers of 'older' children. My daughter is 5, non-verbal has global development delay and has 'autistic tendancies' too. I feel, it is great that your son has found ways to 'communicate'. My daughter communicates but not as effectively to others as she does to us at the moment.

i will look into the organisations you have mentioned, thank you. Please keep posting!

Hi All - yeah I know - us older mums - been there done that. In all seriousness it was always good to know that someone else had walked the path before - and in my turn some 'older' mums helped.
Same here with my son - he was way ahead with communication at home - 98 signs and yet at school at that age he recorded 40 on a regular basis. I think that the comfort factor of being at home and that I understood and had the time (one to one) to understand the signs helped and then he would try out new ones at home and I would have to tell school. i.e. he invented one for McDonalds and one for camping! It goes to show that constant communication with the school is always good value as they can be suprised at what your child shows at home. Also my youngest is 'normal' and I was suprised how much my eldest hovered around him when he was asking questions (there is a four year age gap). I then realised that he was listening to his younger brother asking the questions that he couldn't. It goes to show that you should always talk to them - tell them why they change out of pyjamas into day clothes (why do it, it is all clothing) why is the grass green etc. It is amazing what they will pick up on by listening to you. And please - expect from them. They can eat learn to eat with a knife and fork and have table manners - honest - what is acceptable 'cute' behaviour at 4 is socially isolating at 16. Let me know any questions and I can only let you know of my experience - I won't be offended - glad to see such a support network for you all!

I've seen the VOCAs in the Inclusive Technology catalogue. Looks great. I'm impressed you were given it as well. PECS has really helped my son (giggling away like mad today as he kept asking for more biscuits- luckily he's happy to accept a crumb!) Really hope this does the same for your son.