All Together We Can

Today, the phone rang and it was the mother of a former student saying that her son had something he would like to say to me. I listened and he said, “hi, Mr. Sennott.” This seemingly ordinary event was far from it, for I have never heard that student speak that greeting to me before. The student has an autism spectrum disorder and while he has learned to communicate utilizing various forms of AAC, he has struggled to develop speech. His mother has been messaging me lately with updates about how he has been using the iPad in various ways to communicate and engage with curriculum content. I have been delighted to hear the good reports. Yet, I was unprepared to hear him speak those words.

I recall speaking with his mother on numerous occasions saying to appreciate what AAC offers, but to also know that individuals can acquire speech quite late. I shared anecdotes about some of the people I first worked with at the Respite Center in Hopkinton and how their families reported to me about how late they started speaking. (I remember being in awe hearing about how one friend of mine there had started speaking so late, as she was one of the most loquacious people I know.) Despite my hope and belief that this former student would speak, it still came as quite a wonderful surprise to receive that phone call today. It was truly like music to my ears. Occasionally, I have vivid dreams that some of my students with complex communication needs who use AAC to express themselves communicate to me using speech. I have heard of other teachers experiencing the same thing. Today, that dream cam true.

Fortunately, parents, teachers, and therapists do not have to choose between promoting speech and AAC. It is a well established finding that AAC does not hinder the development of speech. There are some terrific reviews of the relevant research:

Binger, C., Berens, J., Kent-Walsh, J., & Taylor, S. (2008). The effects of aided AAC interventions on AAC use, speech, and symbolic gestures. Seminars in Speech and Language, 29(2), 101-11.

Millar, D. C., Light, J. C., & Schlosser, R. W. (2006). The Impact of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Intervention on the Speech Production of Individuals With Developmental Disabilities: A Research Review. Journal of Speech Language Hearing Research, 49(2), 248-264.

Schlosser, R. W., & Wendt, O. (2008). Effects of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Intervention on Speech Production in Children With Autism: A Systematic Review. American Journal of Speech Lang Pathology, 17(3), 212-230.

Language and communication are tremendously powerful things. I am thankful we have ways to wield them such as speech, sign language, writing, and other forms of AAC, such as using iPads and iPods with AAC software.

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