108: The One About When To Start AAC Therapy & Pediatric TBI
Listen to the podcast here
On this episode I am joined by Rebecca Taskin, a licensed New York City based speech and language pathologist with a background in neuroscience. She specializes in complex feeding and communication disorders. Aside from her many AAC trainings, Rebecca has been trained in PROMPT Therapy, Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders, Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES), and is currently starting a TVI program at Hunter College in the Fall. She specializes in AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) and provides evaluation and assessment for assistive technology and speech generating devices for children with complex disorders including children with CVI (cortical visual impairment).
Topics/Questions:
How have your trainings helped you develop techniques for helping children who are not yet using verbal speech?
What is the best way to start off with children with no verbal speech?
What does the research indicate is the youngest we should start AAC/AT, taking into account all the factors? (youngest I have seen in 6 months) + Venita, have you seen anything younger than this??
What considerations are important to keep in mind when addressing pediatric brain injury? (access and vision)
What piece of advice would you impart on other SLPs?