Help, does anybody have any experience of communication aids?

[slightlycrumpled]

Hi DS2 is in reception and the SALT is going to asses him for a communication aid after a little bit of a battle.

He currently uses makaton and a booklet with words/pictures in. The booklet is now far too basic for him and he is becoming frustrated at not being understood again.

He does speak, and his sentances are gramatically correct, correct number of syllables used etc but he is unable to form constanant sounds, therefore making him incoherant.

I wondered if anybody had any experience of communication aids and how they work.

TIA.

have you tried PECs? sometimes Pecs can work well alongside makaton and some speech.

(I will reply to your email love but have just got rid of resident visitors, sorry you have been poorly x)

There are 2 main types of communication aids that I have come across (as an SEN teacher)

The first is the layered type which is probably similar in principle to your son's communication book in that to communicate the user must select a topic from a touch screen front page and then navigate the aid to select what they want to say e.g if he wantedf ot ask for a drink he would have to find the food & drink page, select drinks & then select what he'd like. They usually have some sentence building words alongside the object words e.g. 'I want', thank you etc.
Here is a link to the most common types of this kind of aid:

www.dynavoxtech.com/products/v/

The downside to these type of devices is that in order to have enough personal content for your son to use they need to be programmed by someone with a fair bit of time on their hands and constantly updated.

The second kind are these:
www.pri-liberator.com/products.aspx

These are amazing - the user needs to learn how to use them - they are not nearly as intuitive as the layered devices but once they've mastered the 'language' (there are step by step lessons which should be delivered by your SALT) they are able to construct any sentence using just the symbols on the machine. THey then never need to be updated & should last the user for as long as needed. I have only seen the 'liberator' in use but presume the simpler versions would be based on a similar principle.
It will take time to build up the skills to use one of these & in the meantime he would probabably have to continue to use the makaton & communication book alongside it.

Hope that's helpful - let me know if you want anymore information.

ladyfio, yes he uses pecs in terms of visual timetable etc but perhaps needs to use them more. I will speak to SALT when I see her.

mrsjuan, wow thank you thats really helpful. I think they have the first one in mind for him at the moment. The trouble is is that he is only 5 so anything that relies on him spelling etc will probably be a bit hit and miss. I just feel so sorry for him that he is unable to hold the type of conversations that his brain wants him to but his mouth won't allow him to.

We will definitely continue with the makaton it actually makes his speech clearer apart from anything else, but his communication book is so basic, colours, happy/sad, hungry etc. All words that were really helpful at pre-school but words that he can now either sign or say.

I will closely look at those links later. Thanks again.

Thanks riven. How is dd getting on with it?

Riven: That sounds pretty frustrating - is it scanning through each individual picture or is she able to scan row by row first? It is really hard to get the balance with scanning speed - is she good with her head switch in other contexts? Perhaps she could try playing some of the switch games on the computer where timing is important to build up her reaction speed.
Sorry if I'm interfering - I'm on maternity leave and missing work a bit more than I thought I would!

Slightlycrumpled: as Riven says, they both use symbols so spelling etc won't be an issue - hope it goes well

we have been using techtalk - v basic so the touch-screen thingys sound much better.

Thanks for messages. We had the meeting and they agreed that he should try a dynamo(sp) type to begin with and see how he gets on.

It was really informative and the assesment that they did with DS2 was heartening as I could see just how much he tries and concentrates for them. But also how much he wants to be able to communicate properly.

The SALT explained that the funding comes from the LEA which worried me to begin with as the Ed Psych had said she wouldn't recommed funding as he wasn't using his (very out of date) book. The SALT explained that she would be able to bypass her so should get the funding and equipment before the start of next term.

riven, I guess the problem is though that she won't get it any quicker if they keep taking it away from her.

At 5years old I think it still has to be repeated many times for it to go in, particularly as it takes such an effort for her to do it in the first place.

I don't blame you for being furious. The thing is if a random stranger that has never met your dd can figure it out, why can't the professionals?!

You need to contact Communication Matters in Oxford, they are the best and biggest organisation for VOCAs (voice output communication aids). They are not selling the things afaik, they are involved in promoting use, research, support etc. Excellent organisation.]