Anyone used LAMP on an AAC device

[Lesley25]

I’m trialing an aac device (ascent 800) that has LAMP set up for my largely nonverbal asd son, he’s 11.

He can say a few words but we have always found some words go through periods of being full of anxiety for him to use, it’s almost like there’s some sort of negative connotations associated with the sound or way sometimes we say particular words.
For example, if we are heading to McDonald’s, we used to say “ let’s go to McDonald’s” but he would get angry and aggressive but actually really want a McDonald’s! We would come home and he would be beside himself with rage, we ascertained that he did want a McDonald’s but By us saying it, we triggered this response. As he’s got older he can be very aggressive and lash out which takes hours for him to calm down, and he’s very remorseful and upset. He can go through periods of the same experience and outburst with things he loves like tandem bike riding so we’ve learnt to just do them without saying them for years- hence the reason for the aac device.

Can anyone give me any tips?

I’ve spent about 4 hours reading the internet and adding words getting to grips with the device. I was thinking I would say it as well as model it on the device so the device also says it. Use it first no pressure alongside my modelling.

Any tips anyone could give me I’d be grateful for.

Hi,

Ds is an aac user, he currently uses proloquo2go but has used lamp in the past. Lamp is also available for ipad in case you're not aware.

Modelling really is the key, it's the same no matter which program you use. Consistancy is also super important! Let him explore his device freely. Make it always available, the more people who model the better. What motivates him? This is a great starting point.

With ds we started with basic 1 word food requests and expanded to places and toys. Getting used to navigation and pressing the sentence strip took time. Once he had this we expanded and added 'i want' to these sentences. Then we added a person and then more specifics. It really is a process. For example he can now say 'i want to eat chicken nuggets and chips please mummy' or 'i want to play with playdoh please mummy'. He can use social language, make requests, reject and is beginning to comment. It's been really life changing for him. His behaviour has significantly improved as he's less frustrated. It's also led to him developing some speech which is amazing seeing as he didn't say a single word for the first 9.5 years of his life.

What particularly would you like help with? I'll try and help if i can!

Thank you.
Today I’ve used it for the first time to model only and let him explore it albeit briefly.
Do you use it to model alongside your language? My Ds is 11 so I’m hoping it will help with frustration too.
I want to use it in highly motivating situations such as requesting a biscuit but I’m scared of getting it wrong. And then I’m worried I’m putting it off as we had a great day today and I don’t want him to feel the pressure.
How did you start?
It’s absolutely fantastic your ds can communicate now, I cannot wait for that

At first it does feel very strange but it'll soon just become a part of life. You'll feel like you model a lot which you will at first but as he picks things up you'll be modelling less and less.

Yes absolutely speak as you model as normal. Don't be afraid of getting things wrong, just give it ago! Start off with single words for requests. That's where we started, plus allowing ds to explore the device. Model with no expectations on him and at first he'll probably ignore you but he'll soon realise if he wants something pressing one button for it is really easy. Once he's picking it up and engaged in the device you can start to work on core vocab.

Do you have salt support or are you setting the device up yourself?

I have salt support and training was for 90
Minutes with the lamp consultant, but I really had to fight for the chance to try this because my son has used pecs since he was 3 but at 5 just lost the inclination to progress and I suspect because it was because he was bored and words had come - but they’ve never progressed.

So , I’m summary I’ll have to fund this myself.
Thank you so much.

I’ll Model the single words, I’m doing that as well as leaving it on the side and my son loves pressing the watch button and seeing his favourite cartoon icons on there, so I’m running with that and food!
Single words I’ll carry on with and the “ I want” button too.
Thank you, I’ll continue and model language with the device at the same time.

OP are you apart if any AAC Facebook groups?

No I’m not on Facebook but I will google to see if there are some I can join through my husbands account- thank you!