AAC: Articulation & Alternative Communication
Rogers Bridge » Articulation and Alternative Communication
Will my child ever talk?
For any parent that is wondering whether or not their child will talk, there are options.
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is a powerful tool that gives your child a voice when they are unable to speak for themselves. AAC supplements and supports a child’s verbal communication. We believe that AAC should be introduced early as early intervention helps your child communicate at a younger age thus increasing language skills sooner. AAC can be used temporarily as your child develops verbal speech skills. For some children, they may never be able to communicate verbally but they can still have a voice. Having the correct AAC system in place will ensure that the child can communicate with others and make their thoughts, ideas, adventures, plans, desires, and dislikes known.
"At 6, 12, and 18 months, I honestly wasn't sure if she would ever talk. Hearing her express her ideas, have conversations, and sing (!) now at 3.5 regularly brings tears to my eyes." — Gina D. (full review lower)
There are many forms of AAC and different levels of support. Some families are already using AAC in the form of sign language. For many children, sign language allows them to be proficient communicators. Some children need more support and may do well with picture cards. Other children perform better with a more robust communication system like a speech generated device. Selecting the correct AAC device requires training and knowledge of the various types of devices.
We are here to support you and help you make the correct decision. It is important to find a knowledgeable therapist that can support you on this journey.
We're passionate about your child's needs.
At Rogers Bridge Pediatric Therapy,
we believe that all children
can learn to communicate effectively.
We will work with your child and family to determine
warm and effective strategies which,
incorporated into your daily life, will serve to help your child enhance communication skills.
The first step is an easy conversation about your child's needs.
We'd like to prove we're a good fit with a free consultation.
"My 8 month-old daughter was struggling to feed (bottle/solids) and was only forming vowel sounds (aah), no consonants (i.e. mama). Jessie began working with her immediately on muscle tone and coordination. Her bottle feeding, eating, and speech have improved so significantly over the past three years, it is nothing short of miraculous. Our daughter eats independently now and is saying full sentences. At 6, 12, and 18 months, I honestly wasn't sure if she would ever talk. Hearing her express her ideas, have conversations, and sing (!) now at 3.5 regularly brings tears to my eyes. Jessie is an amazing speech therapist. She brings the ideal balance of patience, strategy, intentionality, and play to every session with our daughter and we could not be more delighted with her approach. Through our diagnosis journey in discovering our daughter's super rare genetic disorder, she has been a supportive, consistent advocate for our daughter's progress. She is a trusted member of our daughter's special needs team, and we are beyond grateful for her role in our daughter's life!" – Gina D