Speaking about all things SLP!

As I've stated before, I'm a relatively "newly minted" speech therapist. I am fully licensed and now have my CCCs, but to put it in perspective, I graduated from my Masters program in May 2010. What does this mean? I still do have plenty to learn that the books just can't teach you!

So I would like to share about one of my most recent learning experiences --AAC Device Trials, Reports, and Other Joys... 


Let me get less jargony here -- AAC stands for Alternative Augmentative Communication. This basically means any/all alternatives to using only verbal language. AAC includes things like gestures, complex gestural language systems (think: ASL), pictures, buttons you press to talk, and computers that talk for you. An AAC device is any type of electronic device that helps in communication efforts. There are things like a "BIGmack" -- a big button that can activate a mechanical device, or can hold a recorded message. On the more complex end of the spectrum are what we call "Speech Generating Devices" -- ones like an iPad or a DynaVox Maestro. These devices are used to generate speech -- whether it be an electronic, artificial voice, or a pre-recorded voice. There is a lot of terminology with AAC, and I hope to dedicate a post to some of the bigger ones to explain it better. But for now, this will have to do.

Although I studied AAC in graduate school, experience is the best teacher. I have observed AAC evaluations in the past (several) and have written mock AAC device reports. Recently, I conducted four AAC evaluations at my practice.

I have to say, my DynaVox representative is amazing. As I don't have a device within my practice, I naturally have a lot of questions about how to go about the process.

I do have to say though, the report that Medicaid currently requires for approval to cover AAC devices is a beast. It is a rather lengthy report, so prepare yourself. I'm still trudging through mine, but I plan to finish them tonight. Energy drink anyone?

DynaVox is really good about helping to make the process easier. I haven't dealt with any other companies, but it is promising to see that the process has been simplified.

An area of AAC that I really would love to get into is the use of iPads as AAC devices. I don't have an iPad right now, but in the future I do plan to buy one. A good AAC program on the iPad that I have seen in use is Proloquo2Go.

I will write more as I enter the next steps of the approval processes.

Off to work on reports. Reportate. Reportation.

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As promised, I contacted the developers at Time Timer to ask if they were currently working on an application for Android phones.

Here is the very prompt reply I received:

"Hello,

Thank you for your email. We are working on the Android application and hope to have it ready this Fall. Please check back in September for the release. Thanks!

Sincerely,
Jenny Davis
Time Timer LLC
www.timetimer.com"

So watch out for it! For now, you can buy it for PC/Mac and iPod/iPad/iPhone

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It isn't perfect, but it is a darn good start!

I tinkered a bit with my boyfriend's Mac today and made a logo for my website on a neat program he has. Took a while, but I also edited the settings for the background and layout.

Yes, I have ads. I thought it would be worth a try to add some ads in the blog. They seem to be related to the content, so woo hoo! I can't click them, but if you do, please comment and let me know if you do find anything useful.

I plan to make some buttons and other goodies for the rest of the page, but for tonight, this will do.

Off to do something else!
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Product Review Time! This is a product I learned about in graduate school that I am dying to purchase, but just haven't gotten around to it. It is - a Time Timer! (http://www.timetimer.com) (Image from Time Timer's Flickr stream for marketing!) This is an awesome timer tool that you can use with children who don't have a strong grasp on the concept of time -- extremely useful for children on the Autism Spectrum or those with ADHD. It allows you to select what time you want it to count down, and it shows a visual (red) representation of the time as it counts down. If you are a newbie SLP, or someone unfamiliar with the use of visual supports -- I can't stress enough how amazing the use of visual aids can be. When an individual has a language delay, a concept like time can be really abstract. "We just have a little bit more work left..." "I want you to keep working for a few more minutes" "Keep working until I say it is time for our next activity!" Sure, you could tell that to a typically developing child, and (so long as they are feeling like students that day) they will continue to work until you say it is time for the next activity. But what about a child that needs a strict schedule? What if the idea of the "when?" concept drove you crazy?? But when exactly? Imagine if you were working at a job and your boss said you'd get paid... sometime soon. What do you MEAN sometime soon?? I want a schedule! I want to know when! Children on the Autism Spectrum (the prime example I can think of) really benefit from a device that shows a visual representation of time. It takes away the necessity for understanding the concept of time and allows it to be representing visually -- a sand timer of sorts that you can set for whatever time you want. The child can see the time count down. TimeTimer is really the best device that I know on the market, but I will definitely keep an eye out for any other products that are similar. They have a bunch of different size timers as well as apps for PC/Mac and iPod/iPad apps. No Android app yet released, but I did e-mail the developers today to see if there was anything in the works for those of us on the Droid side. So -- this is my first product review on an awesome device that I think is worth a purchase! More to come later... ~*~

Hello! Starting up a new blog, yet again, to deal with interesting findings/musings on my life and my career as a speech language pathologist. Hope to get some good info on here for all! ~*~