Present Notes:
Feeling uncertain about AAC? You are not alone. On this episode, Hallie sits down with Cassidy, a speech therapist and proprietor of Across the Spectrum Remedy in Pennsylvania, to speak by what makes AAC really feel so overwhelming and learn how to transfer previous the “getting it proper” mentality. Cassidy shares her journey from figuring out subsequent to nothing about AAC to constructing a sturdy vocabulary strategy with shoppers from as younger as 17 months, plus sensible methods to educate dad and mom and lecturers who really feel caught.
This is what we realized:
- AAC needs to be handled as one other instrument within the remedy toolbox, not a separate, high-pressure system
- Beginning with strong vocabulary entry early, even with very younger or rising communicators, can repay long-term
- Small, particular wins (one phrase, one second) construct extra momentum than pushing for fixed machine use
- Discovering real pleasure and reference to the kid issues greater than following a inflexible AAC plan
- Assembly dad and mom and lecturers the place they’re is simply as necessary as assembly the coed the place they’re
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TRANSCRIPT
00:00:00 Hallie: Hey there, SLP working with grades 4 by 12. New faculty yr, new you. Let’s not go into this faculty yr feeling overwhelmed and behind on paperwork. Let’s not fear about college students asking why they’re coming to speech. Let’s not have college students shrugging their shoulders and you saying, why am I right here? I do not wish to be right here. Let’s as a substitute have your college students excited to return to speech, able to tackle the challenges you present and make huge progress in direction of their objectives.
00:00:31 Hallie: In case you are able to make this faculty yr the yr that you simply depart work promptly on the finish of the day, plan in an hour or much less every week, and go into each session assured that your college students will grasp the session aims, then SLP Elevate is simply what you’ll want to make this faculty yr a profitable one. Both go to slpelevate.com or ship me a DM on Instagram with the phrase membership, C-U-L-B, and we are able to talk about if SLP Elevate is best for you and your college students. Now’s the time to get your time again, and now could be the time to get your college students excited to return to speech. SLP Elevate is ideal for you.
00:01:14 Hallie: Welcome to SLP Espresso Speak, the podcast designed completely for speech language pathologists who work with older college students, grades 4 by 12. I’m your host, Hallie Sherman, your SLP behind Speech Time Enjoyable, the Speech Retreat Convention, and the SLP Elevate Membership, and I am thrilled to deliver you conversations, methods, and insights that offers you the jolt of inspiration that you simply want. Whether or not you are tuning in throughout your morning commute, on a break in between periods, and even throughout a well-deserved leisure time, I’m right here for you each week. Let’s do that, SLPs.
00:01:55 Hallie: Hey, hey, and welcome to a different episode of SLP Espresso Speak. Are you, like, not so assured relating to AAC, and wanting to construct extra AAC suggestions and methods in your toolbox? I do know you are going to love the dialog that I am having in the present day with Cassidy. Cassidy, fast, welcome to the present.
00:02:14 Cassidy: Hello, thanks for having me.
00:02:16 Hallie: Inform everybody listening about your self and your SLP journey to what you are doing.
00:02:20 Cassidy: So I am a speech therapist that’s primarily based out of Pennsylvania. I personal a non-public follow right here, a price of speech and OT companies. It is referred to as Across the Spectrum Remedy. And we work with loads of youngsters with complicated communication wants, however I actually began out figuring out completely nothing. So it has been fairly a journey to get right here. I had a bit little bit of expertise with AAC in grad faculty, however loads of it was actually self-taught or simply discovering sources on-line, loads of trial and error, seeing what works. So I’ve expertise within the faculty setting, in early intervention within the houses, and in addition in non-public follow. So fairly strong profile of individuals and shoppers that I’ve labored with.
00:02:58 Hallie: That is superior. And why do you are feeling like that AAC tends to really feel overwhelming for SLPs?
00:03:05 Cassidy: I feel there’s simply loads of issues with it. There might be loads of data overload. Generally it is arduous to simplify it or to keep in mind that it is not that a lot totally different than doing language remedy. It is simply one other instrument in our toolbox as a substitute of being this very overwhelming facet of what we do. However I feel generally the expertise half could be a little bit overwhelming for speech therapists, simply figuring out the place to start. Lots of occasions the youngsters that we’re utilizing AAC with can have extra complicated communication, so it won’t be as easy as to what it may well appear to be. Lots of totally different data on the market on-line. So I feel simply quite a lot of elements.
00:03:42 Hallie: Particularly now there’s simply so many alternative apps and so many instruments. So it is like, how are you aware the place to even start when you have got somebody who you are feeling can profit from AAC?
00:03:53 Cassidy: Yeah. And I feel loads of occasions too, speech therapists won’t be coming throughout as a lot. You recognize, for those who’re working in a faculty, you may need a couple of youngsters that might profit from AAC. However relying on sort of how your faculty is structured, that may not be the majority of your caseload.
00:04:06 Hallie: And particularly when, such as you stated, like that was me within the faculties. I had in my total 13 years on this one faculty, my final yr was the yr that I had a stimulus machine and I did not even know the place to start as a result of… was the system he was on, was that acceptable? How am I incorporating it? How am I coaching the workers? Are we doing extra than simply requesting like all these various things? So for somebody like me, what would you say to them?
00:04:34 Cassidy: I feel generally what I inform new clinicians is you simply sort of must dive in and be okay with making errors and know that if you’re making an attempt and placing the trouble in, it may go rather a lot additional than simply being overwhelmed and selecting to not do something. Generally we’re so targeted on what is the good technique, what is the good system that we sort of lose sight of the general aim and simply say, what’s this child in entrance of me? What are their abilities? What are their pursuits? The place would I wish to see them go? The place does that little one seem to wish to go communication smart? Sort of simply dive in and study with them. It is okay.
00:05:13 Hallie: I like that. What is the worst that may occur? You choose the incorrect system and you must change it, proper?
00:05:18 Cassidy: Proper. It is not life or loss of life.
00:05:20 Hallie: What are another frequent misconceptions that SLPs may need relating to AAC and remedy smart when incorporating it?
00:05:29 Cassidy: I used to be responsible of this early on and what I’ve seen rather a lot is usually we get this AAC machine after which that turns into all we’re targeted on or we get it and we simply suppose, okay, now the child ought to be capable to talk proper now that we have now this. After we actually have a look at simply language remedy basically, like I stated earlier, AAC is simply one other instrument. It is okay to not be tremendous targeted on it each minute of each single session. You may nonetheless be engaged on different abilities alongside the aspect of it.
00:06:04 Cassidy: Clearly it is necessary to include it, however it would not should be this like, okay, now we have now this. So the kid wants to make use of it on a regular basis. It is okay in the event that they use gestures, it is okay in the event that they use different strategies to speak. It is meant as a help for them as a substitute of us feeling all of this strain on ourselves that we have to, like, now that we have now this machine, we have to make this work. So I feel that might be the most important factor is simply understanding that it would not should be used each single second of each single session or of each single day. It is okay to take it one step at a time.
00:06:37 Hallie: And what about just like the idea of sturdy vocabulary versus… I do know one false impression that I had is that I wanted to have a less complicated grid with only a couple key phrases at first to show that pupil, which is the fitting strategy and the way are you aware which is the best way to go?
00:06:55 Cassidy: I am an enormous fan of sturdy vocabulary as a lot as attainable. And I clarify this, I work with dad and mom rather a lot now and I clarify to them because the AAC gadgets, we’re not simply utilizing this for output for the kid, you understand, to have output of language. We’re additionally utilizing this for enter. So for those who sort of reframe and have a look at it that method of, okay, we’re utilizing this to provide the kid language enter, it is a lot simpler to be on board with strong AAC as a result of that is the enter we should be giving the kid versus it as only a requesting machine. If we simply need the kid to request, we can provide them a selection board. We should not be, you understand, making an AAC machine only a selection board. So if we actually simply deal with that enter facet of it, it will make an enormous distinction.
00:07:42 Cassidy: I used to be truly considered one of my present shoppers that I’ve had since she was little, I used to be simply trying again over some stuff for her and we began her at 17 months outdated with an AAC machine with a 6 by 10 grid, which I do not know that most individuals would do essentially. And simply due to motor abilities, you understand, we slowly added some phrases, we had some stuff hidden, had the flexibility to sort of toggle forwards and backwards. However now that it has been three years later, I am so glad that we began with that strong entry in thoughts and simply actually specializing in enter as a result of now she’s ready to make use of loads of these phrases that she wasn’t utilizing, you understand, when she was a yr and a half outdated.
00:08:18 Hallie: That is so superb. Are you able to clarify perhaps similar to a pattern session or how you’d strategy a toddler like this and getting them to make the most of this strong vocabulary that has by no means been taught this earlier than?
00:08:30 Cassidy: Yeah, it actually relies on the kid, I might say. However I feel some like overarching issues I at all times maintain behind my thoughts is what’s a toddler enthusiastic about is a big one as a result of youngsters with any communication wants or variations, they’ll talk about what they wish to talk about, you understand, even neurotypical youngsters are going to speak about what they’re enthusiastic about speaking about. So I feel beginning there for the entire youngsters that I work with, what do they like? And generally you must get a bit inventive with sure youngsters as a result of perhaps they like toys, however they don’t seem to be… simply because they just like the toy does not imply that they wish to talk in regards to the toy. They could simply wish to sit and play with the toy by themselves, however that is not one thing they wish to talk with one other individual about.
00:09:14 Cassidy: So I actually construction my periods primarily based on every particular person little one and sort of what their wants are. If they are much extra interactive with motor play, we could be working much more on motion phrases. Children like to inform different folks what to do. And so that may be a extremely highly effective approach to begin is simply to do loads of play and motion and getting them to let you know to do sure issues or telling you to run or telling you to go away. A few of these, you understand, very highly effective issues, however actually similar to trying on the child in entrance of me, seeing what are they enthusiastic about speaking about? How can I be certain that they’ve entry to that? After which actually simply particularly to start with, setting a basis of simply giving them loads of that enter, you understand?
00:09:57 Cassidy: Relying on the child and their consideration, I won’t be modeling 300 phrases inside a session. I’d solely be modeling perhaps three, particularly for a few of my little ones. However we’re doing these over and over and over. And so they’re excited, you understand, so if you may get the child excited, no matter age they’re, no matter their abilities are, you get them enthusiastic about what you are doing, then you possibly can add the communication in and it sort of flows a bit extra naturally.
00:10:22 Hallie: I like that. One among my favourite go-tos had been wind-up toys and wind it up they usually’ll cease, go, grabbing it earlier than it was even performed and simply having them, you understand, doing… wasn’t essentially requesting however commenting and taking part within the exercise, like, I’ll now make a go and I’ll make a cease and simply various things. I like that. I imply, in the event that they’re even like, as you stated, in the event that they’re extra motor, how can we, you understand, incorporate that and getting them to take part versus simply request or simply reply a query?
00:10:54 Cassidy: Yeah, I imply, some youngsters that I’ve labored with, a number of the first phrases they’ve used on their AAC machine are us programming like a sneezing sound in as a result of they suppose it is humorous that I am pretending to sneeze one thing off of my head and that is what they use. And if that is what we have to do to get buy-in, proper, it’s going to result in different issues down the highway, however we simply have to focus at first on what makes them giggle, you understand.
00:11:19 Hallie: I like that. Oh, my goodness. A sneeze sound, that is superb. Talking of which, like, what are another methods to encourage my dad and mom and professionals to simply start and like be part of the method?
00:11:31 Cassidy: I feel it is actually necessary, particularly for folks or professionals – I feel there’s two totally different sort of classes there as a result of in a faculty, it may be a bit bit totally different than like dad and mom at house. However both method, I attempt to remind them to take strain off of themselves and strain off of the kid that is in entrance of them, their little one or the kid that they’re working with. And I actually wish to brainstorm with them of what issues are satisfying for you with this little one. Like, what do you take pleasure in doing collectively? What makes you guys giggle collectively? Do you, you understand, a dad that performs the guitar and you want singing together with your little one? How will we make this like naturally sort of match into your world as a substitute of being this like additional factor that we do not wish to turn out to be annoying, you understand?
00:12:20 Cassidy: So I actually emphasize to start with, take the strain off of all people concerned on this. And I simply attempt to remind them that, once more, simply because we have now this does not imply that your little one impulsively, you understand, wants to speak all the pieces utilizing it. This can be a course of. It is a long run course of. And for those who can simply be okay with beginning actually, actually tiny, perhaps you simply used it as soon as in the present day and that is okay.
00:12:46 Cassidy: So dad and mom or professionals, too, as properly, I wish to have them deal with very small wins. It’s extremely straightforward, particularly within the faculty system, you understand, to stroll right into a classroom as a speech therapist and be like, no one’s utilizing the gadgets and never realizing, wow, like look what else is happening within the classroom, you understand, if they do not really feel assured, in fact, it is like the very last thing on their thoughts. So actually emphasizing the small wins. Wow, like I keep in mind to take it out of their backpack in the present day, you understand?
00:13:12 Hallie: I charged it. Yay!
00:13:14 Cassidy: Yeah, like throughout circle time, I like touched Hiya with it to mannequin it for them. So I feel it is our job as speech therapists, not solely to fulfill the youngsters the place they’re at, however to fulfill the adults of their life the place they’re at, and remind them that, you understand, these small wins are okay, sure, ideally, we might love them utilizing all of it day, each day. However I vividly keep in mind I had a household come to me, the mother was so invested in AAC. She was the one which wished it, she fought for it. After which she admitted to me, she stated, we bought this machine. And the speech therapist instructed me like, okay, now simply begin utilizing it on a regular basis with him. And he or she stated, it felt so overwhelming, as a result of they simply weren’t used to that of their life, that she was like, I really feel so responsible, as a result of I initiated this, I wished this, and now I am not even utilizing it. So it is nearly like all or nothing mindset.
00:14:06 Cassidy: And so we sort of brainstormed, okay, like, when can you employ this, like, let’s choose like one factor, and the child actually loved it, livestock. So I am doing a puzzle. So I stated, all I need you to do is when he is doing the puzzle, however I might just like the animal sounds in there. I stated, simply begin when he needs to place the pig in, simply begin modeling the pig sound on his machine. I stated, and if that is all you do for the entire day, that is a win. And he or she simply actually wanted somebody to inform her like, okay, what is the one factor I can do? What’s one factor I can deal with? So I feel we are able to, you understand, do this for folks and professionals, you understand, actually coach them in these methods.
00:14:44 Hallie: I like that. Nicely, that is only a small win and recognizing the place they got here from and are available from and simply celebrating, being like displaying them that could be a crew strategy. Like they’re solely with us half-hour as soon as, twice, thrice every week, the lecturers, the dad and mom, they’re with them much more. And we have to present them that we perceive that the overwhelm and the battle. Is there any final tip or recommendation you wish to give somebody who, as we’re heading into the brand new faculty yr, that may have a brand new pupil with AAC on their caseload or is apprehensive or eager to turn out to be extra assured with it, what would you say to them?
00:15:21 Cassidy: That is an awesome query. I might say for a speech therapist that, you understand, perhaps is not as acquainted or sort of feels overwhelmed with AAC basically – which I get, I used to be there – is crucial factor is simply discover pleasure in no matter method that you could. In all probability sounds a bit odd with AAC, it is not a selected, you understand, do that or do this. However I feel if we are able to, with the kids that we work with, deal with discovering pleasure with them and make them really feel secure and make our periods thrilling, that the AAC will come a bit bit extra naturally as a substitute of, you understand, making an attempt to have this very structured plan that by no means, you understand, fairly goes in line with plan. But when we are able to simply actually maintain pleasure on the middle of what we’re doing, determine learn how to discover that with the kid after which deliver the AAC machine in. There’s numerous methods for phrase measurement to make use of and all of that sort of stuff. And that may be realized. However none of that basically makes a distinction for those who and the kid aren’t on the identical degree of reference to one another.
00:16:23 Hallie: Thanks so, a lot. The place can everybody study extra about you and all the pieces you must supply?
00:16:28 Cassidy: You guys can discover me on Instagram, @speechwithcassidy. It is similar to my speech remedy Instagram web page. I’ve an Across the Spectrum one, too, for the non-public follow. After which I’ve a web site as properly to speechwithcassidy.com. So I’ve some AAC sources on there, some free ones, some ones that you could buy on there as properly, too. However these spots could be the most effective place to search out me.
00:16:49 Hallie: Superior. I at all times finish my episodes with a joke because it builds rapport and really language primarily based. So why did the rooster be a part of a band?
00:16:59 Cassidy: I do not know.
00:17:01 Hallie: As a result of it had drumsticks.
00:17:03 Cassidy: I’ve by no means heard that one earlier than.
00:17:06 Hallie: Thanks, ChatGPT, for writing that one for me, guys. I am unable to take credit score for it, however you possibly can steal it and take credit score for it for those who favored it. Thanks, Cassidy, a lot for sharing your ardour and experience on AAC with all of us. Everybody go verify her out on Instagram and all of the issues. And till subsequent week, everybody, keep out of hassle.
00:17:31 Hallie: Thanks a lot for tuning in to a different episode of SLP Espresso Speak. It means the world to me that you simply’re tuning in each week and getting the jolt of inspiration you want. Yow will discover the entire hyperlinks and data talked about on this episode at my web site, SpeechTimeFun.com. Remember to observe the present so you do not miss any future episodes. And when you’re there, it might imply the world to me for those who would take a couple of seconds and depart me an trustworthy overview. See you subsequent week with one other episode filled with enjoyable and inspiration from one SLP to a different. Have enjoyable, guys.
00:18:12 Hallie: Hey there, SLP associates. It’s Hallie right here popping in with the most effective information ever. My new e-book, Secondary SLP Roadmap, is formally obtainable. In the event you’ve ever wished for a transparent, sensible information for working with center and highschool college students, that is it. It’s full of actual tales, ready-to-use methods, and instruments you should utilize immediately. Seize your copy now, verify the hyperlink within the present notes, or search Secondary SLP Roadmap on Amazon, after which in fact, please do me a favor. If you find yourself studying it, snap an image and tag me on Instagram @speechtimefun. I like seeing the place you are diving in. The speech room, the sofa, ready in a physician’s ready room, all of the locations. All proper, prepared? Go seize your copy, and let’s make secondary speech really feel doable and enjoyable.
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