Jack saw his Speech Therapist today who visited us with his Portage lady. Jack is used to his Portage Lady and was okay with the ST lady but I felt like she was a little bit patronising. As soon as they came in they both started playing with Jack - which was fine but when he started to respond to them the ST would look at me and say 'Look what he's doing' 'You have to show him what to do'. I kept trying to tell her that what he was doing (wheeling toy cars back and forth to her, putting his magnetic letters onto his easel) wasn't new - he's been doing these things for a few weeks now - after learning from us! She then tried to force PECs onto him and he responded because he knows what to do cause we've been practising and again she made out as if she'd just shown him how to use them. After me trying to tell her what we've been teaching him and what he's capable of, I gave up - I felt like she didn't really want to know about his achievements - just whether or not I'd received her schedule of learning for Jack and whether or not we were 'practising' every day. I did try to explain that because of his ASD we have to pick his best moments of wanting to interact to practice anything and she just kept saying that we need to use PECs more!! To be honest we've had more success teaching Jack to say words in association with actions for what he wants than trying to get him to use pictures. I'm so undecided about his ST now - she just appears, tells me what I should be doing with Jack then makes an appointment for 2 months later then leaves! Has anyone else received and followed a Speech therapist's 'Schedule of learning' to any success? Am I just whining and should I give her a chance? (I think I'm still annoyed about her changing her appt time last week from 1.30pm to 3pm and not telling me - I found out when I rang her at 2pm - then cancelled her cause I was busy!).

ive only been told about PEC's today as melissa is very interested in words rather than talking, she can recopnise words well, but up untill today ive been using a hana(sp?) speech, which giving them chance to talk, pausing, talking very simple and slowly adding words, that has been working fab for melissa, you wouldnt tell it was the same girl from before i did the group, i think it depends on what you think if you find something is working for you and your little one then i would go with that, i always try different thing just to see if they work better when they have been suggested, but if you have something that works i would carry on with that

if he responds better to hand actions...do you think he might respond better to makaton?

xx

(04-30-2010 04:41 AM)Lucy Wrote:  if he responds better to hand actions...do you think he might respond better to makaton?

xx

We are learning/using Makaton through our Portage sessions and use it where we can at home. Jack responds best to words being said repetitively with a result to show for it - ie: biscuit - Jack wants a biscuit? I show him the biscuit, he then actually says "Jack want biscuit" and he gets the biscuit. It's getting our head around this business of fetch the picture if you want something. I'm going to keep trying it because I'll try anything if I think it might work for Jack - if it doesn't, I'm sticking to what I know best. I'm just so grateful for any help we get for Jack that I know I can't not try. x

have you seen the proquo2go?? it is software that goes onto an ipod and its like pecs but after you press th picture you can press speak and it will say the word?
http://www.therapy-box.co.uk/Proloquo2Go.aspx

its something that has been used for Matt as he likes words repeated back to him and while he wont use it at home as we can understand him he loves the fact that when he is at college or out with them he gets a response. you might be able to get help with the cost of it if its something that will work from certain charities like family fund or cauldwell trust

regarding the st taking the credit for what your son learns unfortunatly that is universal lol most professionals seem to think they are the reason for any good thing and the parents for anything bad i had one woman bragging that she had toilet trained matt until i told her at the meeting that he had done it by himself with no help from anyone especially someone who had set him back re the toilet 2 years hehe.
corinne