To all Speech-Language Professionals: if you've ever wondered how you were going to model AAC to a child with a device during a virtual session, I hear you!

We know AAC is best modelled in natural environments and during play, and while most SLPs have figured out ways to do something resembling play-based therapy over Zoom, AAC can feel like a whole other ballgame. So, I wanted to show you one of my favourite resources to use: music videos and songs!

This is completely free using YouTube. I'll sometimes do a Boom Deck first or something that teaches the target words (e.g., we learned "go" and "stop" in a Boom Deck game) and then follow that up with "singing" along to a song. I have an iPad Pro that I like to use for modelling as it's quite a bit bigger and therefore easier to see on Zoom while the video is playing.

I also like to use this with "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" and "5 Little Ducks."

Just because our kids may live in hard to reach places (like in remote Northern communities), this doesn't mean we can't still do play-based AAC virtually... we just need to be creative!

I am honoured to have had the opportunity to chat with Corinne Zmoos, MS, CCC-SLP, on an episode of her podcast, The Gestalt Get-Together!

In this episode, we talk all about my fly-in service delivery to remote Indigenous communities, cultural responsivity, as well as new things happening at HAEPI SLP Therapy Services such as Music-Directed Speech Therapy (and how this is benefitting our gestalt language processors!).

Content warning: This episode includes discussion of the Canadian Residential School System, the '60s Scoop, and generational trauma. Please listen with care.

Check out a glimpse of Kaelyn's Music-Directed Speech Therapy session with a Stage 1 GLP and new AAC user!

Music is highly motivating for many gestalt language processors due to musical features like intonation and pitch. You'll notice how this child actually requested help when he gestured for Kaelyn to touch his device, which demonstrates how quickly he has learned the purpose of an AAC device for communication. Furthermore, watch how Kaelyn honours every mode of communication, whether it be speech, gestures, or AAC.

This child also receives GLP-focused intervention with an SLP to expand his repertoire of Stage 1 gestalts.

Lastly, we have the school to thank for letting us work in the sensory room, where this child can receive external sensory input to aid in regulation. We love a full team approach!

Tag along with Kaelyn to a Music-Directed Speech Therapy session with a gestalt language processor in stage 2 (mitigations!) of the Natural Language Acquisition framework. Kaelyn is working on naturally modelling mitigations (or changing some parts of a script/song within a familiar "frame") in her music directed sessions, and I love how she pauses to allow this child to fill in the blank with a new mitigation (or, she can model something new in that spot!).

Notice how her client is moving, exploring, and staying regulated with movement while still participating in the session! She also used one of his special interests (bees!) to guide her activity. Well done Kaelyn, we love seeing how your clients are responding to your sessions!

Our gestalt language processors (otherwise known as intonation babies!) benefit so much from having musical language input.

I'm seeing this firsthand with Music-Directed Speech Therapy -- a unique service we offer which is carried out by a board certified music therapist (Kaelyn!) and overseen by me (Halle!) based on my SLP treatment goals.

I've been integrating music so much into my practice, even though music therapy is (definitely) not my background! Lately, I've been loving creating songs to go with activities that emphasize easily-mitigable Stage 1 gestalts. I made this song up today during a session and it's here to stay!

Did you catch all the gestalts?

1. Spin the wheel
2. Do it again
3. What will we find
4. Open it up
5. Close it

Let me know if you try this (or something similar) with your GLP! 

This is a little snippet from a regular speech session with a gestalt language processor (not even a Music-Directed Speech Therapy session with our board-certified music therapist, Kaelyn!). I'm not a music therapist, but I'm learning more everyday about how our GLPs respond and thrive with music in their intervention, and I'm getting more comfortable bringing music into practice thanks to both Kaelyn and @crescendo.communication. 

I'm really excited to continue learning more about how we can support our GLPs through music.

Fun fact: I sang in a children's 4-part choir for 8 years, and I wrote songs in my teen years. I'm having fun playing around and improvising in sessions - and hey, that's what stage 2 mitigation is all about!

We are thrilled to announce our new service: Music-Directed Speech Therapy! Swipe through the images above for more information and answers to FAQs (or click here to check out our page dedicated to this new service), and keep reading to watch a clip from a real MDST session!

This new type of treatment, overseen by a registered Speech-Language Pathologist (Halle!) and carried out by a board-certified Music Therapist (Kaelyn!), utilizes Music Therapy practices while working towards Speech-Language Pathology goals.

Music therapy is the clinical & evidence-based use of music interventions to address and accomplish individualized health, educational, and therapeutic goals, such as:

• Improving communication
• Managing stress
• Increasing autonomy
• Expressing feelings
• Enhancing confidence
• Promoting wellness
• Building a therapeutic relationship
• And more!

Music therapy is provided by a registered music therapist who has completed an approved music therapy program.

Music-directed speech therapy is still classified as speech therapy (*not* music therapy), and it falls under the domain of speech-language pathology. However, with music-directed speech therapy, core aspects of music therapy are incorporated into the speech therapy treatment plan. This creates a customized treatment modality that highly benefits music-loving kids.

By combining music therapy and speech pathology, we are able to offer an interactive and engaging rehabilitation program that is especially effective for music-prone children (such as nearly all Gestalt Language Processors).

An added bonus: Music-directed Speech Therapy is eligible for OAP funding and private insurance!