Aac Communication Quotes

TAKEAWAYS FOR TEACHING YOUR DOG Provide a long pause. When you see your dog noticing your modeling or noticing the buttons, turn your routine interactions into language-facilitating opportunities. The greatest cue we can provide is a long, silent pause to give the AAC user a chance to process what is happening and try exploring her words. When you see your dog communicate through a gesture or vocalization, stay quiet for at least ten to fifteen seconds. At the end of fifteen seconds, if your dog looks like she might be walking toward her buttons or is looking at them, continue staying quiet. If you have not seen an indication that she might try saying a word, add a naturalistic cue. Your dog may need cues for a little while before using words independently. Keep providing a long pause, pointing at the button, asking a general question such as “What do you want?” or standing near the button to support your dog’s emerging vocabulary. Even after you’ve heard your dog’s first words, your dog will likely need support before using words independently and regularly. Model words in different contexts to support generalization. Your dog will learn to use words in different ways if she sees and hears you using words in multiple ways. Remember that your dog is intrinsically motivated to communicate. Resist the desire to offer a treat for saying a word (unless the word is treat). This will keep your dog from learning the actual meaning of the word. Stick to providing the appropriate response to your dog’s word. Think about other communication functions besides requesting. Your dog might be trying to label an object or activity in her environment or talk about what is happening.

When your dog is becoming more aware of your modeling, create communication opportunities within your routines When you see your dog noticing your modeling or noticing the buttons, turn your routine interactions into language-facilitating opportunities. The greatest cue we can provide is a long, silent pause to give the AAC user a chance to process what is happening and try exploring her words. When you see your dog communicate through a gesture or vocalization, stay quiet for at least ten to fifteen seconds. At the end of fifteen seconds, if your dog looks like she might be walking toward her buttons or is looking at them, continue staying quiet. If you have not seen an indication that she might try saying a word, add the next level of naturalistic cueing. Add naturalistic cues if necessary After you have already tried staying silent, you can try standing next to your dog’s buttons or pointing at them. Dogs respond to human gestural social cues as early as six weeks old! If pointing or standing near the buttons does not work, you can try tapping it with your finger or foot, not pushing it to activate it. You can also try adding an open-ended verbal prompt such as, “What do you want?” Avoid telling your dog exactly what to say or forcing your dog to push a button with their paw. This can cause prompt dependency and keep your dog from learning how to use words independently. If none of these prompts encourage your dog to try saying a word, simply model it again verbally and with the button, and carry on with the appropriate action.

TAKEAWAYS FOR TEACHING YOUR DOG Expect a language input phase. Your dog will need to hear words to learn words and will need to see her AAC in use to learn how to use it. Expect that this will take time. Model words when your dog communicates. When you see your dog gesturing, whining, or barking, model the word for what you think she is trying to communicate. Pairing a word to her communication is powerful. Use naturalistic cues to draw attention to buttons. If a long pause doesn’t work, you can stand by the button, point at it, or tap it. Pause again after giving a cue. If your dog still doesn’t explore the buttons, go ahead and model the word and carry on with your activity. Model during natural contexts. Model words when they are relevant to what is naturally happening. Respond to communication. If your dog says a word, respond appropriately! In the beginning, try to honor your dog’s communication as much as you can. If your dog is not using words, continue responding to all her other forms of communication. Do not withhold food, water, playtime, trips outside, or anything from your dog. Just create a minute or two of opportunity for your dog to try using a word.

Research shows that when communication partners pause for ten to forty-five seconds, AAC users are more likely to respond using their devices.18 Giving a longer wait time cues the learner that it is their turn to talk. It also gives them more time to process what is happening then choose what to do next.

TAKEAWAYS FOR TEACHING YOUR DOG When deciding which words to teach, ask yourself these questions. What does my dog communicate with her gestures and vocalizations? Which words do I say to her frequently during routine activities? Which words would allow her to communicate for functions other than requesting? Which words could be used across multiple contexts? Establish a vocabulary with more core words than fringe words. For the most communication potential, and more complex use later on, teach high-frequency words. Keep your dog’s buttons in the same spot. We all learn how to talk through the principles of motor learning. Verbal speech users learn the motor plan to say each sound and word, sign language users develop a motor plan for each hand movement, and AAC users for each word location. Continuously moving words around will be confusing for your dog. After you find a spot that works well, stick with it. Spend time modeling new vocabulary. Whenever you add more words, make sure to model them in their appropriate contexts. Respond to accidental hits, mis-hits, and your dog exploring the buttons. Even if you think you are absolutely positive that your dog pushed a button accidentally or meant to push a different one, respond to the word she said. These are valuable teaching moments. Plus, your dog might surprise you with what she says and when. To help your dog become a deliberate communicator, always respond as though the message was intentional. Give your dog more words than you think she knows. This allows for language growth and exploration.

Core words are the most frequently used words in communication. Studies in which researchers analyze language samples from different populations and contexts have shown that there are approximately three hundred to four hundred words that make up about 80 percent of everything we say.20 Core words are typically verbs, adjectives, pronouns, adverbs, and prepositions. The most effective AAC systems are set up to teach core vocabulary first “because it allows communicators to express a wide variety of concepts with a very small number of words. Since core words make up the majority of spoken language, focusing on core vocabulary allows many opportunities throughout the day to hear the same words being used in a natural environment.”21 Using core words sets the learner up for their best communication success.

TAKEAWAYS FOR TEACHING YOUR DOG Add names and other nouns. This can help your dog communicate more specific messages. Test out your dog’s vocabulary. Spend time using your dog’s buttons to try saying the common words and phrases you use. If you’re able to use her buttons to say a variety of common phrases, that indicates a solid vocabulary selection. Model three-and four-word phrases. When your dog starts combining words, keep modeling the next level up. A good rule of thumb is to add one word to whatever your dog said. This helps expand length of utterance. Use the stages of motor learning to help you. Know that it’s possible for your dog to be in the beginning stages of motor learning with some words, and automatic with others. Keep modeling and providing cues for the words that your dog is still learning how to say independently and automatically. Give wait time. When your dog has shown that she is capable of combining words, give her time to do so. Instead of reacting right away to a single word, wait five to ten seconds to see if she will add to her message. Communicating with AAC takes time. Give your dog a chance to finish her whole thought.