Communicating without Speech: Practical Augmentative and Alternative Communication Clinics for Children (Clinics in Developmental Medicine)

This book is aimed at health professionals treating children who fail to develop adequate speech due to complex neurological conditions or learning disabilities and may require augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems. By presenting current research and accepted good practise in the field of AAC authors give detailed information on the neurology of speech and language, and offer guidelines for the assessment of non-speaking children. Issues of prognosis for speech, the timing of intervention and the importance of working within a multidisciplinary framework are discussed. The central role of families and schools in the successful introduction and support of AAC for social communication and curriculum access is recognised. A range of AAC systems and resources are described, and the views of AAC users and their families represented. This will be essential reading for clinicians who treat non-speaking children, and the therapists and other professionals who support these children.

(d.o.b. 14.7.60) - specialist speech and language therapists at Guy� Hospital - part-time lecturer City University, London and University College London - specialises in areas of cerebral palsy, learning disability, autism, feeding, augmentative & alternative communication and play & communication - lectures in UK and internationally on specialist subjects - authored chapters on cerebral palsy, play Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists Council for Professionals Supplementary to Medicine International Society for Augmentative & Alternative Communication

(d.o.b.3.10.46) �research speech and language therapist, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital - specialises in cerebral palsy, feeding and augmentative and alternative communication - member of MacKeith Meeting Committee at Royal Society of Medicine - authored chapters on feeding disabled children - lectures on specialist subjects in UK and internationally Royal College of Speech and Language Therapist Council for Professionals Supplementary to Medicine International Cerebral Palsy Society European Academy of Childhood Disability