Jonah now has a speech device that he can take with him wherever he goes!
This does NOT mean we are giving up on Jonah having effective speech, but after 9 years of working on this goal, we felt it was time to give him some extra help.
When Jonah interacts with our immediate family (mom, dad, brothers, sisters), we for the most part can understand what he is trying to say to us. Jonah uses some words, some sign language, and as of late, he spells or draws out his ideas to us. So in the home setting, Jonah has quite effective speech, although it is not all in the verbal manner.
However, as of late, we are finding two things are happening to our sweet Jonah:
1. Being 9 years old, Jonah has more thoughts and ideas, and his thoughts are more complex and creative to just be communicated in one word. Thus, his limited speaking vocab and signing, and his somewhat limited ability to spell and draw are not enough to convey the amazing things he is wants to tell people.
2. Outside of the home, if one of us immediate family members are not present to interpret for Jonah, many people have no idea what Jonah is trying to tell them. At 9 years old, Jonah wants to be social, has important thoughts to share, and is getting more frustrated when people don't understand him.
For these reasons, we strongly felt we needed to help Jonah however we can to communicate better. This is why we have pursued a speech device for Jonah.
Thank you to the teachers at our school who made us aware of such an option being available to Jonah! I know it was a tedious process to apply for the device.
Our major concern was that use of the device would cause Jonah to try and speak less because he would instead rely on the device.
However, research shows that speech devices actually encourage speech. See article below for more formal explanation, but here is my summary about why devices encourage speech:
1. Once Jonah realizes the "power" of his words and how neat it is to be understood, this will motivate him to talk. To try and talk when not many people even respond to you is disheartening and not very motivating.
2. The speech device provides a consistent voice speaking the words Jonah is selecting. This gives Jonah a constant model to imitate which is probably even more effective than hearing the various people in his life pronouncing words with varying intonations etc. "Joshua", the voice on the speech device, is always the same pronunciations, meaning easier for Jonah to copy.
We have had the speech device for about a month now. We actually feel like Jonah is talking more and is becoming more understandable!
My biggest struggle with the device is how people will react to Jonah using it with them. Some people are very comfortable and patient as he uses the device to talk. Others, understandably, are a little taken back and don't know how to carry out a normal conversation between themselves, Jonah, and this little device.
But it never hurts to spread awareness and educate, right? So we are considering this speech device just another avenue for us to help people feel comfortable with DS.
We are hoping and praying that Jonah will continue to use his words- he has a sweet little voice with such beautiful things to share! I believe the world will be a better place if it can hear from this little boy!
P.S. Ben, although much more verbal than Jonah, is also utilizing the device. Mainly, because of the dynamics of Ben being jealous if Jonah gets to use the device. But we feel it can also benefit Ben so we are trying to work out a "sharing" schedule with the device.
Click HERE for link to speech devices
This does NOT mean we are giving up on Jonah having effective speech, but after 9 years of working on this goal, we felt it was time to give him some extra help.
When Jonah interacts with our immediate family (mom, dad, brothers, sisters), we for the most part can understand what he is trying to say to us. Jonah uses some words, some sign language, and as of late, he spells or draws out his ideas to us. So in the home setting, Jonah has quite effective speech, although it is not all in the verbal manner.
However, as of late, we are finding two things are happening to our sweet Jonah:
1. Being 9 years old, Jonah has more thoughts and ideas, and his thoughts are more complex and creative to just be communicated in one word. Thus, his limited speaking vocab and signing, and his somewhat limited ability to spell and draw are not enough to convey the amazing things he is wants to tell people.
2. Outside of the home, if one of us immediate family members are not present to interpret for Jonah, many people have no idea what Jonah is trying to tell them. At 9 years old, Jonah wants to be social, has important thoughts to share, and is getting more frustrated when people don't understand him.
For these reasons, we strongly felt we needed to help Jonah however we can to communicate better. This is why we have pursued a speech device for Jonah.
Thank you to the teachers at our school who made us aware of such an option being available to Jonah! I know it was a tedious process to apply for the device.
Our major concern was that use of the device would cause Jonah to try and speak less because he would instead rely on the device.
However, research shows that speech devices actually encourage speech. See article below for more formal explanation, but here is my summary about why devices encourage speech:
1. Once Jonah realizes the "power" of his words and how neat it is to be understood, this will motivate him to talk. To try and talk when not many people even respond to you is disheartening and not very motivating.
Side note: when I say try and talk, I really mean that it takes Jonah great effort to make sounds. The sounds that come naturally to us do not come naturally for Jonah. His speech therapists are literally showing him how to form his mouth to make certain sounds. If Jonah doesn't get good
feedback after making all this effort to talk, the temptation is to not put forth any effort and remain silent.
feedback after making all this effort to talk, the temptation is to not put forth any effort and remain silent.
2. The speech device provides a consistent voice speaking the words Jonah is selecting. This gives Jonah a constant model to imitate which is probably even more effective than hearing the various people in his life pronouncing words with varying intonations etc. "Joshua", the voice on the speech device, is always the same pronunciations, meaning easier for Jonah to copy.
We have had the speech device for about a month now. We actually feel like Jonah is talking more and is becoming more understandable!
My biggest struggle with the device is how people will react to Jonah using it with them. Some people are very comfortable and patient as he uses the device to talk. Others, understandably, are a little taken back and don't know how to carry out a normal conversation between themselves, Jonah, and this little device.
But it never hurts to spread awareness and educate, right? So we are considering this speech device just another avenue for us to help people feel comfortable with DS.
We are hoping and praying that Jonah will continue to use his words- he has a sweet little voice with such beautiful things to share! I believe the world will be a better place if it can hear from this little boy!
P.S. Ben, although much more verbal than Jonah, is also utilizing the device. Mainly, because of the dynamics of Ben being jealous if Jonah gets to use the device. But we feel it can also benefit Ben so we are trying to work out a "sharing" schedule with the device.
Click HERE for link to speech devices
Click HERE for article about "will-communication-device-hamper-real-speech"
No comments:
Post a Comment