Meet Sophia
A speech-language pathologist (SLP)
Name: Sophia Apgar
Clinical Setting: Owner of Insight Speech and Swallowing Therapy, which provides speech and swallowing therapy to clients in New Jersey and Pennsylvania
“To see a client go from frustrated and depressed to being able to participate more in the things that are important to them […] it’s so rewarding. My client can communicate more functionally. And he’s much more open to communicating since using this device.”
Overcoming Stalled Progress and AAC Abandonment in Speech Therapy
Week after week, Sophia Apgar watched as her client, Josh*, left his Lingraphica AAC device untouched on the therapy table.
Josh was a young father with moderate nonfluent aphasia and apraxia following a stroke over a year ago. He received a Lingraphica TouchTalk while working with a prior speech-language pathologist, but had never really “bought in” to using it. He didn’t want to rely on a device to communicate for him — he wanted to speak again.
Based on aphasia research, Sophia knew AAC could be an incredible tool to support Josh’s language recovery and boost his confidence when communicating.
She just needed to help Josh see the benefits of using AAC, too.
Using a Client-Centered Approach to AAC to Enhance Outcomes
Part of the reason why Josh avoided using his AAC device is because he feared it might prevent him from regaining his speech.
Sophia knew this common myth about AAC often leads to device abandonment — so she took action to show Josh how AAC could actually support his therapy goals.
In the following video, Sophia shares what many of her clients and their families ask about AAC — and how she often responds:
Research supports the approach that Sophia shares above. AAC doesn’t hinder speech — in fact, it’s incredibly helpful in speech and language acquisition and rehab. Check out these studies for more info: Dietz, Wallace, & Weissling, 2020; Johnson et. al, 2019; Dietz et. al, 2020, Millar, Light & Schlosser (2006) — or schedule a phone conversation with our SLP team to discuss more!
With this new understanding, Josh began to see his AAC device in a different light.
Using Aided Language Input to Cue Speech with AAC
Sophia started adapting their sessions (and Josh’s AAC device) to focus on what mattered most to him: talking with his 3-year-old daughter, who happened to be on a speech therapy journey of her own.
Once Sophia showed Josh how he could use AAC to cue and practice his speech (instead of as a replacement for it), things really began to change for the better!
To further his progress in therapy, Sophia and Josh tapped into the built-in therapy tools on his Lingraphica device, like repeating words using the mouth model videos in TalkPath Therapy™. Josh also used the Draw app (which is like a digital whiteboard) to write or draw pictures in order to cue the words he wanted to say.
In this video, Sophia shares her creative, personalized approach to AAC and Josh’s case.
Less Frustration, More Functional Communication
Over time, Sophia witnessed how Josh’s AAC device shifted from a frequently avoided piece of technology to his trusty language rehab sidekick.
The best part for Sophia, though, has been seeing Josh’s incredible progress.
Since they first began working together in therapy, Josh has increased his response length, improved his sound production, and can self-correct phoneme errors. He can communicate more functionally, and is much more open to conversation now.
Using his TouchTalk to cue his speech, Josh can finally ask his daughter about her day at school or join in family discussions. The smile on his face in those moments says it all! Instead of feeling isolated and frustrated, he can now build upon the connections he thought he’d lost forever following his stroke.
Sophia’s story (and Josh’s success with AAC) is a great reminder that AAC isn’t only a tool to supplement speech. It can be used throughout the entire therapy process, leading to improved communication, connection, and confidence for your clients.
*Client’s name and identifying characteristics changed to protect patient privacy.
Lingraphica Can Help
Lingraphica offers free one-on-one consultations for SLPs who have someone on caseload who might be a good fit for an AAC device but aren’t entirely sure where to start. Call us at 888-274-2742 or visit the link below to get started.
