One of the Moms on this site recommended a book a little while ago
called The Verbal Behavior Approach. You can get the book from Different
Roads to Learning. Here is a description.
This step-by-step guide provides a wealth of information about how to
help children develop better language and speaking skills using Verbal
Behavior methods. Written by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, who is
also the parent of a child with autism, Mary Lynch Barbera explains all the
ins and outs of Verbal Behavior and how to implement and structure a
program. With clear language and multiple examples, the information
provided enables both parents and professionals to put the techniques
into practice immediately. Chapters include: Starting with ABA; Assessing
Your Child; Developing Reinforcers; Manding; Increasing and Improving
Speech in Non-Vocal or Minimally Vocal Children; Errorless Teaching and
the Use of Transfer Procedures; Teaching Receptive Language Skills and
Other Non-Verbal Operants; Putting It All Together; Teaching Toileting
and Other Important Self-Help Skills, among others. Soft Cover, 176
pages, by Mary Lynch Barbera, RN, MSN, BCBA with Tracy Rasmussen
Foreward by Mark L. Sundberg, PhD, BCBA
I also want to say that there are worshops which teach this method as
well. Good luck.
google vince carbone and look at his site, he probably has a lot of links
that could help you out
LI would start with getting your child to say the beginning sound of the
object, then work your way to the word. Sometimes if these kids can
have some success at the little things it will pave the way for them to try
the bigger tasks. This worked with my son, as did labeling everything,
since heis so visual-and hyperlexic.
My friend just went through something similar and she said working with
a specialized speech therpist really helped her son. The therapist was
working on tongue placement,mouth formation etc. He now tries to say
the words. His mom is elated! He is finding his voice!
AThanks everyone for your help!
Jen,
We did VB/ABA and every skill or task was geared towards language..it was my main priority at the time. As far as sounds we had speech 2 hours a week and she would work on one letter at a time and wouldnt move on till Sarah mastered it...lots of flashcards, lots of objects that correlate with letter..tons of praise!! Sarah would sit across therapist or ST and they would sound out GGGGG for "G"..and then say goat with a picture of a goat or a plastic animal goat..having a visual object and word helped with the auditory sound of it. Some sounds came quick and some came weeks later.. We did put all reinforcers up high for her to attempt sounds and words to get them.. she had to learn her words had power first or she would of never talked..she was so used to getting me and family to get her needs met..that had to stop. We also did a tally of utterances in the day so that even though she wasnt talking..her sounds were increasing~which is what you want:) After months of doing these things the words came in..at first one-two word sentences and longer ones came much later. Now she talks so much I forget she used to go for days without say anything! Persistance and determination got her there..dont give up:)
Different Roads to Learning (www.difflearn.com) has a lot of ABA products. The book Kathy K. referred to is only .95. They also carry a book called "Teaching Language to Children with Autism or Other Developmental Disabilities" for .95. The description reads in part "This book is the foundation for anyone looking to implement a Verbal Behavior program. Based on Skinner's behavioral analysis of language, Teaching Language presents a concrete language assessment and intervention program...."
My son already had language when we started our VB/ABA program, so I don't know specifically what they do to encourage kids to start using their words. When we were first trying to get our son to use language, we actually did what your therapist suggested. We made him "request" what he wanted. Even if it was jargon, we praised him like crazy for it and gave him what he wanted.
I also used to hold objects/picutures near my mouth and then label them. In doing this, I made sure he was paying attention to how my mouth was forming the words. Getting those first words out was like pulling teeth. I swear, it was one of the most frustrating things I've experienced in my life. However, with a lot of time and patience (more or less), the words started to come.
I would continue following your therapist's advise and just give it some time. Good luck!
Hi all. Well my son is receiving ABA therapy with VB also. He is doing pretty well with the ABA therapy. He will clap or give a high five every time we ask, and he learned these things in a few weeks.. but, as far as getting him to babble or try to say a word, I feel like I am not getting anywhere with this. The therapist tells me to get some of his toys that he likes, or food, and then try to get him to babble something before I give them to him. So I have been working on this a lot lately, but he is just not really responding much. I hear him babbling quite a bit on his own and hear lots of different vowel and consonant sounds, but he just doesnt relate them to anything. I am just wondering if any of you might have any good tips or exercises for doing VB therapy.. I would really appreciate it. Thanks!
Jen