When a parent tells me that their child has limited language, but has learned one word/sign, in my head, I say it in unison with the parent, “more.” This is typically the “go to” first word or sign that speech-language pathologists and developmental therapists teach. In fact, it’s the first word I taught before I learned about the science of verbal behavior. However, for numerous reasons, it’s best to avoid teaching “more” as a first word whenever possible. In the following video, I build a case against teaching the word “more” and discuss the types of first words to teach instead in order to create a strong foundation for future language development.
The Power of Gestures
Nov 24th, 2020
My most used tool in my practitioner’s toolbox is one that at first glance often seems foreign to both speech-language pathologists AND Board Certified Behavior Analysts. Many of my therapy sessions feature a variety of hand gestures that either supplement or replace my verbal speech prompts with learners. The gestures aren’t American Sign Language or … more »
