Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC)

Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC): communication methods used to supplement or replace speech.

Examples of AAC include (but are not limited to):

- gestures and sign language

- Speech Generating Devices

- communication boards

How we can help:

In our sessions, we support and validate all communication. We model a variety of options (speech, gestures, signs, pointing boards, communication books, speech generating systems) and help our clients discover which systems work best for them. We believe in early, barrier-free access to low- and high tech communication systems and we strive to help clients get the tools and support they need.

Articulation

Articulation refers to how we use our lips, tongue, teeth, etc. to make sounds.

Examples of articulation difficulties include::

- difficulty pronouncing one or more sounds (e.g: saying "bish" for "fish", "tat" for "cat", "sip" for "ship")

- dropping sounds at the beginning, middle, or end of words (e.g.: "do" for "dog", "at" for "hat"

How we can help:

We use a variety of tools (visual cues, verbal cues, print cues and movement) to help our clients understand how sounds are produced. We incorporate literacy activities into our articulation therapy sessions, as we believe that phonological awareness (how to play with sounds) and knowledge of print (written letters and words) help kids develop their articulation skills.

Auditory Processing Disorder

Auditory Processing Disorder: People with APD have normal hearing abilities, but their brains have trouble receiving, organizing, and making sense of sound. APD is diagnosed by Audiologists.

How we can help:

We work with Audiologists and clients to provide a personalized treatment plan based on results from Auditory Processing Assessments.

We use a three-pronged approach to remediation:

1) Knowledge and self advocacy

2) Compensatory strategies

3) Specific skill training

Autism Spectrum

Autism Spectrum: Autism is a brain difference. Like all people, Autistic individuals have strengths and challenges that are a reflection of their individual brain wiring.

Challenges often include:

- social interaction differences

- sensory sensitivities

- communication differences

- executive function challenges

- movement challenges

- emotional differences

How we can help:

OUTLOUD is a neurodiversity-affirming practice. Through play-based, client-led sessions, we help Autistic individuals and their caregivers understand their brain wiring and identify their strengths and challenges. We help our clients develop a personalized plan based on their profile and help them meet their goals in a safe and supportive environment.

Executive Function Differences

Executive dysfunction occurs when the brain has difficulty with functions related to memory, attention, and thinking. Executive dysfunction can be caused by a variety of conditions, including (but not limited to):

- ADHD

- Head Injury

- Stroke

- Depression

- Learning Disabilities

How we can help:

We are a neurodiversity-affirming practice. Through play-based, client-led sessions, we help individuals with executive function differences and their caregivers understand their brain wiring and identify their strengths and challenges. We help them develop a personalized plan based on their profile and help them meet their goals in a safe and supportive environment.

Gestalt Language Processing and Natural Language Acquisition

Analytical Language Processors learn language in the "typical" way, beginning with single words and moving up to word combinations, phrases and sentences.

Gestalt Language Processors begin with learning whole phrases, songs, stories, movies. Since long multi-word sentences are hard for young mouths to say, they are often difficult to understand. They can sound like "jargon" or "babble". They are often rich in intonation or musicality.

Natural Language Acquisition is a detailed description of the natural gestalt language development process supported by longitudinal language development data. NLA trained clinicians are familiar with the developmental sequence and can help GLPs progress more easily through the stages.

How we can help:

Trained in Natural Language Acquisition, our clinicians help children and their caregivers understand Gestalt Language Processing and move more seamlessly through the stages of language development.

Hearing Loss

Hearing Loss: Hearing loss can be present at birth or develop later in childhood or in adulthood. It can be genetic or caused by infectious diseases such as meningitis, recurrent ear infections, trauma, or certain medical conditions. Audiologists diagnose hearing loss. Hearing loss can cause difficulties in articulation, language, literacy and social communication.

Hearing Aids: Hearing aids are small devices that fit in or on the ear, worn by people with hearing loss to amplify sound.

Cochlear Implants: Cochlear implants are electronic devices that stimulate the auditory nerve through electrodes placed in the inner ear, allowing some severely deaf people to perceive sounds.

Auditory Verbal Therapy (AVT): AVT is a method used to teach individuals to listen and speak using their hearing technology. It emphasizes listening and seeks to promote the development of the auditory brain.

How we can help:

Nicole has been trained in Auditory Verbal Therapy and can provide this service for children with hearing loss who wear hearing aids or cochlear implants.

Interoception and Social-Emotional Wellbeing

Interoception is the ability to sense the different signals from your body. This can include (but is not limited to):

- hunger

- thirst

- increased heart rate

- body temperature

- muscle tension

Emotion is the experience of energy moving through the body. It is generally felt as sensations of tension or calm. Our interpretation or thoughts about this energy give it meaning.

Emotional Regulation is a person's ability to manage and respond to emotional energy as it moves through the body.

Social-Emotional Wellbeing involves the ability to recognize, experience, regulate, and express emotional energy, build and maintain relationships, and make positive decisions.

How we can help:

All individuals benefit from understanding more about their brain-body connection, body signals, and emotional energy. As such, we build these conversations into all of our sessions, helping our clients develop awareness and regulation strategies while they work to achieve their goals.

Language and Grammar

Language: how we understand words or symbols (gestured or written) and use them to communicate.

Grammar: rules of a language that tell us how to combine sounds, words, sentences, and other elements.

How we can help:

In a safe, play-based environment, we model and teach language, vocabulary, and grammar skills to our clients and explain the unspoken rules of the English language.

Literacy

Literacy describes particular ways of thinking about and doing reading and writing.

Phonological Awareness is the ability to recognize and manipulate the spoken parts of sentences and words. Examples of skills include: syllable awareness, rhyme awareness, rhyme production, identification of letters and the sounds they make, awareness of initial, final, middle sounds in words, breaking words apart into individual sounds, blending individual sounds into words. Difficulties in phonological awareness skills are an important predictor of reading/writing disorders.

How we can help:

Using an approach rooted in the Science of Reading, we help clients strengthen their phonological awareness, spelling, decoding, vocabulary and reading comprehension skills.

Motor Speech Disorders

Motor Speech Disorders are characterized by difficulty moving the muscles needed for speech production due to weakness or reduced coordination. The most common motor speech disorders are dysarthria (caused by weakness, incoordination, or paralysis of the oral muscles) and apraxia of speech (caused by a disruption in how the brain directs or coordinates the mouth movements necessary for speech).

How we can help:

In a play-based, client-led environment, we use a variety of tools (visual cues, verbal cues, print cues and movement) to help our clients understand their brain wiring and work on speech sound production. We incorporate literacy activities into our therapy sessions, as we believe that phonological awareness (how to play with sounds) and knowledge of print (written letters and words) help kids develop their speech production skills.

Perspective Taking

Perspective Taking: the ability to understand how a situation appears to another person and how that person is reacting to the situation.

The Double Empathy Problem: when people with very different experiences of the world interact with one another, they may struggle to understand each other

How we can help:

In a safe, judgement-free environment (in individual or group sessions), we discuss frequently experienced challenges with perspective taking and social interaction. We help our clients and their communication partners develop strategies to navigate social communication in a way that is respectful to all involved.

Stuttering and Fluency

Stuttering: repetition of sounds, syllables, or words; prolongation of sounds; and interruptions in speech (e.g.: I-I-I went to the store; "mmmmy mom called)

Fluency: refers to how smoothly sounds, syllables, words and phrases are joined together during speech.

How we can help:

In a calm, no-pressure environment, we help our clients understand the "hows" and the "whys" of their stuttering or fluency challenges. We then assist them in developing a plan to achieve their goals (e.g.: increasing acceptance of stuttering; educating communication partners; reducing stressors).

Voice

Voice Disorder: a voice disorder occurs when difficulties with voice quality, pitch, or loudness cause a decline in an individual's quality of life.

Gender-Affirming Services: some people feel that their voice and communication style do not match who they are. Gender-Affirming Services help individuals explore how to reduce the mis-match.

How we can help:

We work closely with Ears, Nose and Throat (ENT) physicians to develop treatment plans for our clients who suffer from voice disorders. If appropriate, we help our clients apply for funding (through the Assistive Devices Program) for voice amplifiers, voice prostheses and/or electrolarynges. We also offer services in Gender-Affirming Voice and Communication change for Transgender and Gender-Diverse clients.

Every client receives a personalized treatment plan based on their individual needs. If you have any questions about our services, please give us a call!