Category: AAC

AAC, About speech pathology, How we work, Language, Speech

Supporting child friendly & child safe practices

Danielle Watkins

At Talking Fish Speech Pathology, we value child safety above all else. A truly child-safe space is one where children feel emotionally secure, respected, and heard. Here is what our commitment means for your family:

1. Prioritising genuine engagement

We prioritise joyful engagement over making fast progress towards rigid, adult-defined goals. When children feel safe and truly comfortable in their environment, they naturally connect and learn. Enjoyment improves progress! We want your child to love their time with their therapist.

2. Thoughtful, child centred goals

We think deeply about the goals we select. Our focus is entirely on supporting your child’s authentic development and building meaningful communication skills, rather than simply choosing goals that make an adult’s life easier.

3. Learning from the past

It is vital that speech pathologists acknowledge historical harms done by our profession. In the past, unkind techniques were often used to work towards unhelpful goals. This profoundly affected many communities, including First Nations people, Deaf and Hard of Hearing people, and neurodivergent individuals.

As society accepts that everyone is inherently valuable and deserves kindness, these rigid compliance-based practices are falling away. However, some still remain.

Our stance on rigid therapy frameworks

Talking Fish does not support Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) or its associated therapies and techniques, such as the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). Research and community feedback indicate that these approaches can be harmful to a individual’s long-term mental health.

What We AvoidWhat We Practice Instead 

Rigidity, force, and compliance-driven protocols (e.g., standard ABA & PECS compliance routines).		Kindness, empathy, and connection. Communication should always feel like a safe, positive interaction. Our clinicians use the DIR Floortime approach to engaging with children and young people.

Enforcing strict rules that disregard the child’s emotional comfort or distress.		Supportive visual tools. While some of our strategies use picture cards to aid language development or visual schedules to outline routines, they are adapted fluidly and with deep empathy.

Let’s Talk About Your Child

Every child is unique, and we tailor our care to suit your specific family situation. We encourage you to speak directly with your therapist for individualised advice, guidance, or to explore more neurodiversity-affirming resources.

AAC, Language

Beyond “Correct” Speech: Validating Multi-Modal Communication

Danielle Watkins

When most people think of speech pathology, they imagine a child sitting at a table, practicing the “S” sound or learning to string together a perfect, five-word sentence. While verbal speech is a wonderful tool, focusing on it as the only measure of success is like looking at a toolbox and deciding that only the hammer matters.

At Talking Fish, we believe in a broader, more inclusive definition of success. It’s called Multi-Modal Communication, and it’s the key to reducing frustration and building genuine connection between you and your child.

What is Multi-Modal Communication?

Simply put, multi-modal communication is using everything at your disposal to get a message across. As adults, we do this constantly without thinking. We wave “hello,” we point to a menu item in a noisy restaurant, we roll our eyes to show frustration, and we text emojis to convey tone.

None of these methods are “lesser” than speaking; they are simply different modes. For a child, especially one who is neurodivergent or experiencing a language delay, these non-verbal modes are often their strongest bridge to the world.

A Win is a Win: The Hierarchy of Connection

In our clinic and home visits around West Gippsland, we often see parents feel a sense of “failure” if their child doesn’t use a word to ask for a drink. But if we look closer, that child might have:

  1. Looked at the water bottle (Joint Attention).
  2. Led their parent by the hand to the fridge (Leading to Object).
  3. Pointed or used a specific gesture (Intentional Communication).

In our books, that is a 100% successful communication exchange. When we acknowledge and respond to these “non-verbal” wins, we tell the child: “I hear you. Your message is important. You have the power to change your world.” When a child feels successful, their anxiety drops. And when anxiety drops, the brain is in a much better state to eventually experiment with sounds and words.

The Myth of the “Lazy” Communicator

A common worry we hear is: “If I respond to his pointing, won’t he get lazy and stop trying to talk?”

The science tells us the exact opposite. Communication is about connection, not compliance. Using signs (like Key Word Sign), gestures, or AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) actually provides a visual map for language. It reduces the cognitive load on the child, allowing them to focus on the meaning of the interaction rather than the exhausting physical act of Coordinating speech muscles.

Celebrating the “Small” Moments

If you are a parent or a student clinician, I encourage you to start “collecting” these multi-modal wins. A “win” looks like:

  • The Shrug: Understanding that “I don’t know” is a complex social concept.
  • The Eye Gaze: Seeing your child look from a toy to you and back again.
  • The Push Away: Validating a “No” or a boundary, even if it’s silent.
  • The Script: Recognizing a line from a favorite movie as a way to share a feeling (Gestalt Language Processing).

Shifting the Goalposts

Success in therapy isn’t just about the clarity of a child’s “R” sound; it’s about the clarity of their voice – in whatever form that takes. By validating every shrug, sign, and look, we build a foundation of confidence.

We aren’t just teaching children how to talk; we are teaching them that they are worth listening to. And that is a win worth celebrating every single day.

AAC, Language, Speech

“No Seriously, When Will My Child Talk?” – Advice for Parents of Nonverbal Children

Danielle Watkins

It’s a question that weighs heavily on the hearts of many parents: “When will my child talk?” While our previous post touched on general speech and language milestones, we know that for some families, the journey looks different. If your child is nonverbal, or you have significant concerns about their very limited verbal communication, the typical timelines can feel frustratingly irrelevant. At Talking Fish Speech Pathology in Warragul, we understand this profound worry, and we’re here to offer advice, support, and hope.

Understanding “Nonverbal”

First, it’s important to clarify what “nonverbal” can mean. It doesn’t necessarily mean a child will never speak. Instead, it refers to a child who is not yet using spoken words to communicate, or who has very few, inconsistent verbal productions. This can be due to a variety of underlying reasons, including:

  • Developmental delays: Sometimes speech development simply takes a longer path.
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Many children with autism are nonverbal or minimally verbal.
  • Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS): A motor speech disorder where the brain has difficulty planning the movements needed for speech.
  • Intellectual disability: This can impact all areas of development, including speech.
  • Hearing impairment: Undiagnosed or untreated hearing loss can significantly affect speech development.
  • Selective Mutism: An anxiety disorder where a child is unable to speak in certain social situations.

Beyond Words: The Importance of Communication

When a child isn’t talking, our primary focus shifts from just spoken words to communication in all its forms. Every child communicates, even without words. They might use:

  • Gestures: Reaching, pointing, waving.
  • Facial expressions: Smiling, frowning, looking surprised.
  • Body language: Pulling you to something, turning away.
  • Vocalisations: Crying, grunting, laughing, babbling.
  • Eye gaze: Looking between you and an object.

As parents, observing and responding to these early communication attempts is crucial. It validates their efforts and lays the groundwork for more complex communication.

What Can You Do Right Now? Practical Strategies for Parents

While waiting is hard, you can actively foster communication in many ways:

  1. Seek Professional Help (Early!): This is paramount. If you have concerns, don’t wait. Contact a speech pathologist. We can conduct a thorough assessment to identify the potential underlying reasons for nonverbal communication and recommend the most appropriate intervention. Early intervention significantly improves outcomes.
  2. Focus on Connection and Interaction: Create plenty of opportunities for your child to interact with you. Get down to their level, make eye contact, and join them in their play. Follow their lead and show genuine interest in what they are doing.
  3. Model and Expand: Talk to your child constantly, describing what you are doing, seeing, and hearing. Use simple language. If they make a sound or gesture, respond to it and expand on it. (e.g., if they point to a ball, you say, “Yes, ball! Big ball!”).
  4. Use Gestures and Visuals: Pair your words with gestures. Use real objects, pictures, or even simple signs (like those from Key Word Sign or Auslan) to support understanding and give your child a way to express themselves. Visual schedules can also help with daily routines and understanding expectations.
  5. Create Communication Opportunities: Make communication necessary! Place desired toys out of reach, give them choices, or pretend you don’t understand to encourage them to communicate their wants.
  6. Patience and Celebration: The journey can be long, and progress might be slow, but every small step is a victory. Celebrate every attempt at communication, whether it’s a sound, a gesture, or an eye gaze. Your positive reinforcement is incredibly powerful.
  7. Explore Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC): A speech pathologist might recommend AAC options. These are tools and systems that support or replace spoken communication. This could include picture cards and visual schedules, voice output devices (like an iPad app), or communication boards. AAC does not prevent speech from developing; in fact, it often supports and encourages spoken language by reducing frustration and building communication success.

The Speech Pathologist’s Role

At Talking Fish Speech Pathology, we are experts in supporting nonverbal children. We can:

  • Accurately assess your child’s communication skills and identify potential barriers.
  • Develop individualised therapy plans tailored to their unique needs.
  • Provide strategies for you to use at home.
  • Guide you in exploring and implementing AAC if appropriate.
  • Collaborate with other professionals involved in your child’s care.

When will your child talk? There’s no single answer, but with early intervention, consistent support, and a focus on all forms of communication, we can help them find their voice, whether through words or other powerful means.

If you have concerns about your child’s verbal communication, please reach out to a Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP). We’re here to listen, support, and guide you every step of the way.

AAC

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) 101: Giving Everyone a Voice

Danielle Watkins

At our Talking Fish Speech Pathology, one of the most powerful tools we use to support individuals with communication challenges is Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Whether you’re a parent, teacher, support worker, or just curious, understanding AAC is an important step in creating inclusive, communicative environments for all.

What is AAC?

AAC stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. It includes all forms of communication—other than speech—that people use to express their thoughts, needs, wants, and ideas. AAC can support someone’s existing speech (augmentative) or replace it entirely (alternative) when verbal communication is not possible.

AAC is not just for people who are non-verbal. It’s for anyone who has difficulty using spoken language. This might include children with developmental delays, people recovering from strokes, or individuals with conditions like autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, or motor neuron disease.

Types of AAC

AAC falls into two broad categories:

1. Unaided AAC

This type doesn’t involve any external tools. It includes:

  • Gestures
  • Key Word Sign
  • Facial expressions
  • Body language

Unaided AAC relies on the user’s physical ability to communicate, which may not be suitable for everyone.

2. Aided AAC

This involves using tools or devices. It ranges from simple to high-tech, including:

  • Picture boards or communication books
  • Picture cards and visual schedules
  • Speech-generating devices (SGDs) or tablets with AAC apps like Proloquo2Go, LAMP Words for Life, or TouchChat

Some people use a combination of both unaided and aided AAC, depending on their environment and abilities.

Does AAC Stop Someone from Learning to Speak?

This is one of the most common myths—and it’s not true. In fact, research shows that AAC can support and encourage spoken language development. By giving users a way to communicate, AAC reduces frustration, builds confidence, and often provides a stepping stone toward verbal speech.

How Do We Choose the Right AAC?

There is no one-size-fits-all solution. A qualified speech pathologist works with the individual (and their support team) to assess their needs, abilities, and goals. Considerations include:

  • Fine motor skills
  • Cognitive ability
  • Vision and hearing
  • Environment (home, school, community)

Trialing different AAC systems is often part of the process to find what works best.

Why AAC Matters

Communication is a human right. When someone struggles to speak, AAC can be life-changing. It opens doors to connection, education, independence, and self-expression. It gives people a voice—sometimes literally—and a way to be seen and heard.

Final Thoughts

If you think AAC might help your child, student, or loved one, reach out to a speech therapist for guidance. Introducing AAC early can significantly improve quality of life and social connection.

We’re here to help you explore all the options and find the right communication pathway.

Let’s give every voice a chance to be heard.