Communication
Stalen had many first words and seemed to be meeting language milestones. One day he became very quiet, stopped using his words and went through a language regression around 13 months of age. He is still working every day to find his words. Today, Stalen is considered non-speaking or non-verbal. While it comes down to preference, non-speaking seems to be the best word to describe Stalen's communication style, because he DOES communicate, he just doesn't do it by verbally speaking.
We began with PECS (picture exchange communication system) when Stalen was about two years old. He used PECS to communicate his basic wants/needs. When he was about 3.5 years old we switched to Proloquo2go, which is a special software that you can purchase and use on an Ipad. Stalen loves technology and he has grown proficient in using it.
Success didn't happen overnight, it has taken lots of hard work to teach Stalen how to use Proloquo2go. Some of the strategies that we have used include: core words (word of the week), boards for special events and holidays, LOTS of modeling, setting parent goals for usage, finding ways to use Proloqou2go in our everyday life.
Stalen loves to sing songs, choose paint colors, and read his favorite books with Proloquo2go. But his most favorite is telling jokes and trying to make others smile.
You will find videos below of Stalen communicating :)
