An estimated 30 percent of autistic children use few or no spoken words at school age.1 In one community program, about a quarter of children left early intervention using fewer than five spoken words.2
What studies have found
Reviews of studies with autistic children found that AAC did not get in the way of speech, and most studies found speech went up somewhat.34 In a randomized trial with minimally verbal children aged 5 to 8, those whose therapy included a speech-generating device from the start made faster gains in spoken language.5
Children don't need any particular skills before starting.6
Research supports modeling: parents and teachers pointing to words on the child's device while they talk.7 Most studies have looked at children asking for things, and fewer at conversation, so when you model, include comments as well as requests.8
Setting up Dawn for your child
Fixed word positions
Many children find words on the board by where they are, the way you find keys on a keyboard. In Dawn a word stays in its cell until someone moves it, and when the board grows, new words go into empty cells.
Starting with fewer words
"Words to show" starts at First words, about a dozen, then Combining, then Everything. Each word appears in the cell it will keep. Button size is a separate setting, for children who need bigger targets.
Vocabulary
The home board has words that combine into sentences: I, you, want, not, more, help, like, stop, what, where. Folders hold feelings, people, places, food and more, so a child can say "I feel tired", "not that one" or "where's Dad?".
Voices
Dawn includes children's voices, and Voice Studio can make any voice sound younger or older. Speech runs on the device, so it works at school or in the car without Wi-Fi.
Settings for parents and therapists
With Modeling mode on, your taps on the board are spoken but don't change your child's word suggestions or usage history. Lock Settings stops a child from getting into Settings by accident. If siblings share an iPad, each can have a profile.
A first week
- Set Words to show to First words.
- Choose two or three times a day your child enjoys, like snack time, bath time or a favourite game.
- At those times, tap a word or two on the board as you talk: "more", "go", "stop". Don't ask your child to copy you.
- Keep the device charged and within your child's reach.
- Answer whatever your child taps as if they meant it.
There's more in how to start AAC with your child. Dawn doesn't provide autism treatment; a speech therapist with AAC experience can help you choose words and settings for your child. For teenagers and adults, see AAC for autistic adults.