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Augmentative Communication Devices and Techniques

We believe that every child has the competence to be a successful communicator when met at an appropriate level and given the proper augmentative and alternative system. This may incorporate the use of a high-tech device and/or combining low tech picture boards and visual schedules to supplement. Augmentative and/or assisted communication devices are aimed at giving children a voice and a way to be heard and engage in conversations with others. As part of the evaluation proce

Hanen

The Hanen approach teaches parents and caregivers to take a primary role in helping their children with the development of their communication skills. Hanen can be effective with language delay, autism spectrum disorder, Asperger Syndrome and language and literacy development, particularly in early childhood. Our therapists support parents in learning techniques to encourage speech and language development throughout a child’s daily routine, in and out of the home. For more i

Integrated Listening Systems

The iLs program is a multi-sensory technique which is intended to strengthen existing pathways and create new neural connections in the brain. The exercises can have a wide range of effects on the brain, which can influence the body's systems such as balance, vision, hearing, motor skills, coordination and emotions. This technique is aimed at benefiting a variety of conditions including: sensory processing, speech and language, neuro-developmental difficulties as well as lear

PROMPT Therapy Technique

PROMPT is the acronym for Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets (the motor actions which produce the sounds of speech.) It is widely used as a therapeutic technique for childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). It is a multidimensional approach combining both physical-sensory aspects of motor learning along with cognitive-linguistic and social emotional aspects The technique is a tactile-kinesthetic approach that uses touch cues to a patient’s articulators (jaw, t

Sign Language

Two or more of our staff members use American Sign Language at word, sentence and beginning conversational levels. All staff members know a core vocabulary. Sign language is used in early childhood as a bridge to verbal communication. It is also used in a multisensory/multimodality approach to treat language learning disorders and childhood aphasia of speech. Use of a visual sign can aid in memory and concept development which results in better word recall/retrieval of verbal

Visual Language Support

Visual cueing systems which pair hand gestures and signs with motor speech movements to help your child pair the motor pattern needed for a speech sound with the visual cue. Visual cueing techniques are often used in concert with tactile kinesthetic cueing systems such as PROMPT. Visual cueing is especially helpful in children who are not ready or do not tolerate PROMPT (e.g., with some sensory disorders children feel pain and/or have significant tactile defensiveness). This

What is an Evidence Based Practice?

This is the process of making treatment decisions that integrate the most reputable research, the professional expertise of the clinician, and the specific characteristics that make each child different and special. We use four main principles that guide our relationship-based model. 1. Focusing on the family dynamic- We utilize the family beliefs and values to help strengthen and enhance the child’s growth because the child’s family is what will provide the constant framewor

What are Placement tools?

Placement tools enhance the ability for a child to achieve the correct positioning of the articulators to produce a target sound. They can also be used to improve oral motor skills. When being used to improve oral motor each clinician will be able to answer why they are using something and how it relates to improved communication, swallowing etc. We use a variety of placement tools with some children receiving treatment for articulation disorders such as dyspraxia or dysarthr

Pathways

to Communication