Hi, everyone!  I joined this list server in the hope
that I will be able to consult with other SLPs and
exchange ideas.  I am a speech pathologist in Asia and
I have been working for 7 months already in a private
clinic.  I also teach anatomy and cleft to students
at the university where I graduated from.  I was just
wondering if anybody could help me with a 6 yo/f with
autism.  She is non-verbal and uses gestures to communicate
wants--Teacher (taps me), please give (open palm)
me (points to self) the toy (points to toy).  This was
a "programmed" means of communication and she sometimes
misses pointing to herself or something else and has
to be moderately cued.  My goals for her include
following commands, improving receptive language
(ex, "point to the girl eating" given two action pictures,
and she'll be able to respond properly), improving
use of functional gestures and improving object-picture
matching as her school uses the picture exchange communication
system (PECS).  On the side, I try to elicit imitations of
simple vocal models I give IN THE FERVENT HOPE that she
will imitate them.  I don't want to give up on verbal
communication.  Not just yet anyway.  I have only
started managing her case 2 months ago.  Family support
and compliance are EXCELLENT.  Both her parents are
doctors.

     Would you please be so kind as to suggest ways
on how I could go about improving/eliciting verbal
communication?  Where should I start?  How?  Which
sounds?  I'm doing vocal play as she likes noise
producing toys but she shows no interest in imitating
the sounds produced.  SHe has good attention and sitting
span, and is managed by an OT as well.

     Your suggestions will be greatly appreciated! Thank
you and good day.


Sincerely,

Ana Escalante
Speech Pathologist


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