PECS and especially AAC trigger speech in ASD kids?

[sa3ida]

Hello mums

My son is 7 years old without speech...using PECS and thinking of moving on to AAC but was wondering if this will.help with his speech ,?

Which software to use? I have been advised to go for Proloquo2Go.

Any advice?

My son.is on ABA program and has somedounds...although random...good motor imitation

I strongly hope AAC will have a positive impact on him...

Plz share your experiences..

[greenjewel]

Can only speak for us and of course everyone is different! DS uses proloquo2go and it's what eventually led to him developing some speech. Ultimately it was communication we wanted from it and we certainly got it, the speech was an added bonus. It's a lot of work modelling via the device but one that's well worth it. DS uses it to make sentences for requests, rejection, basic social interaction. It's really helped him to functional communicate and add to that the small amount of verbal words he picked up. He didn't say any verbal words till we started using the device/modelling full time at age 9 and a half.

Lots of different software available, salt will be able to advise which will be best.

[sa3ida]

Great news...he developed speech through AAC....this is what most if not all mum said to me.

But what did he use to communicate his needs before the age of 9.5?

PECS?

THANKS so much for your time and answer

[greenjewel]

He used pecs but with very little success to be fair. He mainly hand led. Things changed very quickly, the key is consistent modelling and getting school on board with that (that's been the hardest part for us).

[carriebradshawwithlessshoes]

Green jewel I’ve just read your post on another thread then saw you on here re the same issue. DS was 7 last week and is non verbal. Many days I just think this is it, he will never speak. It’s so lovely to read stories like yours.

can I ask though, who got him going with the aac? I’m not at all saying it shouldn’t be something that falls to me and DH ultimately but it would be so good for some professional to have some patience and skill to work with him on it. No one has. His fine motor isn’t great, tends to use a clumsy full hand/ several fingers to touch the screen which then of course just vanishes/ moves to the wrong thing. SALTs have just given up within minutes and it’s not progressed beyond that.

he starts a SS in Sep. I hope they may fare better.

[SusiePevensie]

Carrie, might a keyguard help?

[carriebradshawwithlessshoes]

possibly I will take a look thank you x

[greenjewel]

Unfortunately we didn't get any support with introducing the device. We learnt everything from Facebook aac groups and the assistiveware website (they make proloquo2go). We've got lots wrong along the way but you do what you can with the resources you have. We had a private salt once he made massive progress to help with school as they had zero interest in supporting him with it. Ultimately we removed him from that school and it was whilst he was home for 7 months and we were able to use the device full time that he said his first verbal words. Ultimately though that was an added bonus, his speech is wonderful but far from functional on it's own (gained about 50 words over the last 4 years).

You would ideally want a salt who specialises in high tech aac (it's very specialised). NHS salt don't have a specialist in our area and had no interest in helping us. Luckily DS has a wonderful therapist at the new school who works with us and specialises in all aac.

If it's something you are interested in the ace centre would definitely be able to give you advice. They do assesments under some circumstances, NHS salt may also do assesments in your area. Personally I don't like managed devices but I fully understand some people prefer this. The support you will get unfortunately will be minimal.

As Susie said a keyguard is what I'd try in that situation. Lots of different devices which can be adapted to specific needs as well as lots of software options.