Major focus area

Speech Therapy -> Augmentative and Alternative Communication

Short description

Using a least-to-most prompt hierarchy gives children scaffolded support to become independent and autonomous communicators.

Long description

Using a least-to-most prompt hierarchy gives children scaffolded support to become independent and autonomous communicators. Least-to-most prompt hierarchy: 1) pause and wait without pressure, 2) express interest in what the child might say with body language or facial expressions, 3) observe the child and make an “I wonder…” statement (e.g., “I wonder if you are all done”), and 4) model without expectation. Avoid: 1) modeling with the expectation that the child will copy what you said and 2) prompting the child to say something you want them to say. Reference: Finke, E. H., Davis, J. M., Benedict, M., Goga, L., Kelly, J., Palumbo, L., . . . Waters, S. (2017). Effects of a Least-to-Most Prompting Procedure on Multisymbol Message Production in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Who Use Augmentative and Alternative Communication. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 26(1), 81-98.