Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
COVID Precautions
The current recommendation of NYS is to follow a teletherapy service delivery model. In some instances, that not may be in the best interest of the child, in which case an in-person or hybrid services may be more appropriate.
If services are to be delivered in person, materials will not be shared between daily sessions. Each person will be supplied an individual speech backpack that has papers and items relative to therapy specific for them; including sanitizer, wipes, and pens. Each person in the session will be required to wash hands with soap and water or use an alcohol based sanitizer. Masks are currently being recommended for all adults and children over 2years old within a 6 foot proximity, and should be worn by all participating in the session. Face shields may be used as well.
You will be contacted prior to each session to review COVID 19 and other illness symptoms for yourself, the client and other family/ household members.
What is AAC?
Augmentative: communication supports that increase the effectiveness of natural speech and speech approximations.
Alternative: communication supports in the absence of functional speech. It is a replacement to their vocal abilities.
Common forms: Messages may be represented as picture symbols, icons, photos, and words. These messages may be displayed on communication cards, in communication books, single message buttons, fixed boards with voice recordings (called simple digitized systems), computer-type systems with computerized speech (speech generating devices). People may use a combination of paper based and electronic based systems depending on their needs. Gestures, manual signs and video clips may also be a part of a persons system.
Who benefits from AAC?
A person may benefit from AAC if their speech (or sign language, or literacy abilities) is not effective to communicate all needs and thoughts, in all contexts, with all partners.
People may be limited in their language expression and understanding early in their life because of a developmental disability, such as autism, cerebral palsy or Down syndrome. Others may find their communication impacted much later in life due to a traumatic brain injury, accident, stroke, or degenerative disease.
Anyone capable of producing a thought or emotion that is able to react to their environment and possesses at least one reliable movement has the potential to communicate with AAC.
AAC that is electronic based with voice output for messages has proven to increase speech and vocalizations for some people with residual speech.
Everyone benefits from AAC… The user because they can share what’s on their mind, and everyone else because they can be understood and understand the person. Both parties experience less frustration and are happier interacting.
Why are specialized services for AAC important?
• Language and communication are primary to our ability as people to interact with each other and our world.
• Some people have limited access to the power of expression and understanding, as well as the tools for developing and maximizing their potential to build relationships and make contributions to their families and communities.
• Many of them do not have the power to change things on their own… they need help.
• It is the responsibility of the people that interact with them, their families, friends, staff, and community members to help them find and utilize effective tools to enable expression and understanding.
Finding those tools can feel complicated and overwhelming. Having the support of a specially trained professional with experience providing evaluations, therapy, and consult services to individuals with complex communication needs, can help maximize communicative effectiveness and efficiency for the client and people in their lives.
What is articulation therapy like and why is it so important?
Following an assessment to determine what sounds are in need of support, therapy begins. The following sequence is generally the most important: instruction in the most salient features of the sound and how the structures in the mouth need to move in order to produce them; auditory discrimination for when others produce the target sound correct or incorrect; therapy to increase accuracy in articulation of that sound addressing one (or more) feature of the sound including models, visual and verbal cues, consistent corrective or reinforcing feedback; multiple trials embedded in to motivating materials; careful monitoring of accuracy to track progress; review of performance at the end of each session.
Communication is an essential part of interacting with others, and the way we talk often forms a person’s first impression of us. Many children have articulation errors, but because they are not delayed in two areas speech or language, are not eligible for school-based services. Although academics are not often impacted directly, social relationships often are; and may indirectly result in poorer school performance.
People that are speaking English as a second language, may find their speech difference is creating an occasional barrier to successful conversations with their customers (such as health, educational, and public service professionals). Others may find challenges communicating effectively in their day to day life in the community. Articulation therapy will help clarify the client’s speech, however, because of the explicit training provided; clients will be able to control the level of ‘accent modification’ they choose to use in any given conversation.