Help Me Chat: Eliciting Communicative Acts from Young Children Using Speech-Generating Devices

Authors

Rebecca A. Hernandez-Cartaya, Florida International UniversityFollow

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Speech Language Pathology (MSSLP)

Major/Program

Speech-Language Pathology

First Advisor's Name

Eliane Ramos

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Monica Hough

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Third Advisor's Name

Alfredo Ardila

Third Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Keywords

augmentative and alternative communication, speech-generating devices, complex communication needs, preschool, prompting, cueing, teacher-implemented interventions

Date of Defense

7-8-2016

Abstract

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is an evidence-based practice targeting the communication deficits of children with complex communication needs (CCN). While young children with communication disorders are attending preschool and using AAC, and specifically speech-generating devices (SGDs), with increasing frequency, best practices for implementation with this population are largely unexplored. In an effort to contribute to the knowledge base for teachers, the essential communication partners for children in the classroom setting, this research explored the interactions of four teacher-child dyads and analyzed the prompts and cues used to elicit communicative acts from the children.

Results of statistical and descriptive analyses revealed that, while teachers overwhelmingly favor and use verbal prompts over other stimuli, these prompts were no more effective in eliciting communicative acts. These results indicate that teachers would benefit from instruction in a variety of techniques for enhancing communication via AAC; future research directions towards this purpose are detailed.

Identifier

FIDC000782

Recommended Citation

Hernandez-Cartaya, Rebecca A., "Help Me Chat: Eliciting Communicative Acts from Young Children Using Speech-Generating Devices" (2016). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2538.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/2538