Tuesday, April 20, 2010

AAC Trial

Natalie is currently in her third week trialing the Vantage Lite, an AAC (Augmentative & Alternative Communication) device from an awesome company called Prentke Romich. These type of sophisticated communication devices have opened up the world of communication to many children and adults with disabilities who otherwise would not be able to, or would have significant difficulty, interacting with others. I understand they are widely used for children with neurological conditions such as CP but also for children with Autism and a variety of other disabilities which negatively affect the ability to communicate verbally. Normally, if the trial goes well and everyone agrees that there will be significant benefit from its use, we will place an order for Natalie to get her own! In case some were wondering, the fact that we will likely be going this route does not mean that we have in any way given up on Natalie being able to communicate verbally. Research has shown that AAC devices actually facilitate speech skills and many kids start speaking more, and more clearly, after using an AAC. I am very happy to report that Natalie has very quickly picked up on how to use her device to communicate some basic wants and needs. It was exciting to see that she seemed to really "get it" from the very first day. Below are some short videos of Natalie using the Vantage Lite during meal times. Just a note that this is a very complex device and the way we are using it now is in just the most basic way. See Fighting Monsters with Rubber Swords to learn about Schuyler, an older child who uses this same AAC device in a much more sophisticated way. This will illustrate the possibilities this device will give Natalie over the next several years.



**Please excuse Natalie's crazy hair in the last video. Someone who I won't name but who babysits for Natalie 2 days a week must not have felt the need to comb Natalie's hair that day. I suppose it makes sense knowing that this same person did not willingly brush her own hair until she was about, oh, maybe 10 years old!

6 comments:

  1. Leave Heather alone! My mo-in-law would also tell you that hair brushing was an option when she watched Ella. She would pull it back in a ponytail without brushing it. Yes, it was as pretty as it sounds : )

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  2. Oh and I forgot...Way to go, Nat! I think she might wear out the chicken nugget button soon!

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  3. Beauty comes from within. For the record, I still don't brush my hair every day...is that a problem?

    I love Nat's crazy hair, it makes me laugh!

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  4. cool natalie! we like crazy hair around here too:)

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  5. Check out one of the best magazine profiles I've read in a long time. It's about Roger Ebert, who's lost his ability to speak due to cancer.

    The article is here: http://tinyurl.com/ybo6tuw

    and some clips of him using his device on Oprah's show are here:

    http://tinyurl.com/ybvrfhn

    There are a few people who deserve every bit of their salary in this world, and I think it goes without saying that the scientists behind Natalie's and Ebert's devices have earned theirs.

    I'm also reminded of a New York Times piece I read a while back that discussed some of the insurance issues surrounding some of these devices. You can read it here:

    http://tinyurl.com/y9r7dfo

    Great post!

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  6. I am one of the nurses in the NICU where Nat spent her first months. I have a daughter who is non-verbal and uses a Vantage-Lite. It makes a world of difference in her ability to communicate and level of frustration she experiences from having it in her head, but not being able to express it. We are close to getting Amanda her own! Best wishes with Natalie! We always joke that when she gets it, she won't ever be quiet again!! It will be music to your ears!

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