You don't understand what your student is trying to communicate to you. It is unclear or unintelligible.
DON'T:
WHAT IS
DON'T ask them to "Say it again"
You don't understand what your student said. Maybe it was a new script, maybe it was unclear or unintelligible
YOU SHOULD
WHAT IS
acknowledge that they are trying to communicate
respond with "ok!" "yeah" or "Wow!"
respond with a head nod and "mhm"
A script used frequently by an individual that is from one of their favorite movies.
What is delayed echolalia?
"you fart, fart!"
Eden
Student: *grunting*
WHAT IS
"No thanks"
"I don't like it"
"don't do that"
(anything similar to these)
Your student has an original gestalt, "time to go home" that they use across contexts. They can appear to be happy or angry, and still say "time to go home"
DON'T
WHAT IS
Don't take the gestalt literally!
know that: This original gestalt is tied to some emotion and is used to help regulate, or to communicate a specific emotion.
You don't know where a button is on your student device.
YOU SHOULD:
WHAT IS
find another button that is available that is meaningful to the situation
Talk it out loud for the student to see what' you're doing "I am trying to find "break" on here but I don't see it. Let me look. Maybe it's under "activities"."
Teacher: "do you need to use the bathroom?"
Student replies: "do you need to use the bathroom?"
What is immediate echolalia?
"take a ride"
Skyler
Student: "go to the gym"
What is
"I love the gym!"
"gym is so fun!"
"time for gym!"
Your student has an original gestalt "blue sky" but you realize she says it even when it's a rainy day
DONT
WHAT IS
Don't take the script literally.
Your student is pressing random buttons on their device. They don't make any sense to you. It doesn't seem like they're trying to ask for anything. They're not making eye contact with you.
Let them explore! This is a good indicator that they are checking out their device, babbling, and seeing where different words are located
You're reading a book with your student and labeling all the pictures on the page. You see a picture of a dinosaur and say "dinosaur".
Student says "dinosaur"
what is immediate echolalia?
"do it again"
Jose
Student: "Let's go fast"
WHAT IS
"yeah!"
"mhm"
"here we go!"
"let's go fast!"
Your student says, "you burp burp" after burping
DON'T
WHAT IS
Do not respond with "say excuse me!"
Your student says "you burp burp"
YOU SHOULD:
WHAT IS:
"excuse me!"
Student is in school, and their teacher drops their lunch on the floor. The student shouts "oh no!!! That was my mother's!"
What is delayed echolalia?
"nack"
Henry
Student: *unintelligible long string of jargon*
WHAT IS
"yeah!"
"mhm"
*nod head yes*
"wow!"
Your student is repeating "1, 2, 3 go!" on their AAC device. It's been over an hour and they're still repeating the phrase.
DON'T
WHAT IS
Don't ignore your student
Don't take away their device or turn the volume down
Your student is repeating "1, 2, 3, go!" on their AAC device. It's been over an hour and they're still repeating the phrase.
YOU SHOULD:
engage with the student, they're trying to communicate something
repeat back, "1, 2, 3, go!" verbally or using the device
Respond with "yeah!" "mhm" etc.
A natural and beautiful way of developing language through the use of scripts or echolalia. It is not something to ignore or be frustrated with. It is a normal way of developing language.
What is Gestalt Language Processing?
"Cookies are so fun!"
Eden
Student: "time to go home"
WHAT IS
"time for _____"
"what's next?" (look at student's schedule together)
please do not take this script literally and do not reply with "4:00" or "what time do we go home?"