Vantage+Lite

An Overview of Vantage Lite by Catherine Broderhausen media type="custom" key="4600440" Most people unfamiliar with students suffering from conditions that impair their communication, primarily speech, do not fully understand the benefits of AAC. The following article from Prentke Romich Company (a leader in the AAC industry) attempts to explain the multitude of benefits.

What's Important in AAC?
The two most important values expressed by people who rely on AAC are: 1) saying exactly what they want to say, and 2) saying it as fast as they can. Saying exactly the right thing requires spontaneous novel utterance generation (SNUG) (as opposed to the use of preprogrammed sentences). SNUG requires access to core vocabulary (those few hundred words that constitute the vast majority of communication) as well as to fringe vocabulary (the thousands of infrequently used words). Communication speed, in words per minute, is a function of several factors. Perhaps the most significant factor is the language representation method(s) employed. Research based on subjects who rely on AAC has revealed that the communication rate using semantic compaction (Minspeak) can be up to six times that of spelling (Hill et.al., 2001). Communication rate (words per minute) Frequency of Use (%)
 * **The goal of AAC is the most effective communication possible.**

SMP = Single Meaning Pictures; SPE = SPElling; WPR = Word PRediction; SEM = SEMantic compaction (Minspeak) People who rely on AAC choose to use the fastest method for access to core vocabulary. Again, research based on those who rely on AAC has shown that they use semantic compaction for around 90% of communication. The remaining communication is split between spelling and word prediction (Hill, 2001) or single meaning pictures. Speech-language pathologists and others providing services to people who rely on AAC have an ethical responsibility to take action that is in the best interests of the individual (ASHA, 2001). Evidence-based practice (EBP) is essential to get the best results. EBP requires the consideration of external evidence as well as collection and analysis of performance data on the individual being served. AAC service providers must know and understand the way language is generated and the relative merits of the different methods (ASHA, 2002). Of the three language representation methods commonly used in AAC, research and clinical data clearly demonstrate that semantic compaction (Minspeak) not only allows SNUG but also can result in the fastest communication. Single meaning pictures and alphabet-based methods are generally better for extended vocabulary.
 * What gets the best results?**

Minspeak is a method of accessing language through the use of short sequences of multi-meaning icons (Baker, 1986). The power of Minspeak comes from a small symbol set (no changing overlays or screens), a short symbol sequence, and it does not require literacy skills. Here is an example of a statement using Minspeak.
 * What is Minspeak?**

Anyone not familiar with the power of Minspeak may consider reading, attending a seminar, or taking a free Internet-based course. Information is available at www.prentrom.com. Minspeak represents patented intellectual property and as such is supported only by specific AAC systems. All Prentke Romich Company AAC systems support Minspeak as well as the other language representation methods. Results from various controlled studies indicate that learning Minspeak for functional communication is practical. Fluency using Minspeak can surpass that of spelling and word prediction within a few hours of instruction (Gardner-Boneau & Schwartz, 1989; Hill & Romich, 1999). Many fluent users of Minspeak received little or no professional support in learning their systems. Minspeak is being used successfully by individuals with a wide range of language and intellectual capabilities. AAC professionals have reported use of Minspeak by individuals with IQ of 40 and above and also by young children (Watkins, 1996; Tullman & Hurtubise, 2000). AAC evidence-based clinical practice requires the collection and analysis of language samples. All AAC systems available from Prentke Romich Company have built-in language activity monitoring (LAM) to support evidence-based practice. When activated, LAM records the content and time of language events. The following example shows the events that led to the utterance: “It’s faster than spelling everything out which is what I used to do”**.**
 * I am hungry and I want something to eat**
 * LAM and AAC Performance Measurement**

Analysis of language samples collected using the language activity monitor is used to guide therapy and measure outcomes.

**References** American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (2001). Code of ethics (revised). Asha Leader, vol.6 (23), p. 2. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (2002). Augmentative and alternative communication: Knowledge and skills for service delivery. Rockville, Maryland. http://www.asha.org Baker, B.R. (1986). Using images to generate speech. Byte, 11, 160-168. Gardner-Bonneau, Daryle J., & Schwartz, Paul J. (1989). A Comparison of Words Strategy and Traditional Orthography. In Proceedings of the 12th Annual RESNA Conference. pp. 286-287. Hill, K.J. (2001). The development of a model for automated performance measurement and the establishment of performance indices for augmented communicators under two sampling conditions. Unpublished dissertation. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Hill, K. & Romich, B. (1999). Identifying AAC Language Representation Methods Used by Persons with ALS. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Convention, San Francisco. Hill, K.J., Holko, R. & Romich, B. (2001). AAC Performance: The Elements of Communication Rate. American Speech- Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Convention, New Orleans. Tullman, J. & Hurtubise, C. (2000). Language activity monitoring on a young child using a VOCA. Proceedings of the Ninth Biennial Conference of ISAAC. pp. 310-313. Watkins, C.W. (1996). Technology connection! Proceedings of the Tenth Minspeak Conference. Wooster, OH. WIAAC 01/22/08

The folVantage Lite is one such AAC device, made by Prenke Romich Company.

A full description and specifications can be found [|here]

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As you can see from the image above, the Vantage Lite has a variety of icons on the screen for the user to choose from. Some of these icons can be double-touched to open up more words in the same category. For instance, the icon fruit would open up icons of specific fruits on a new screen. Depending on the needs of the user, there can be 8 - 84 icons displayed on the screen. At the top of the screen there is a white rectangle that displays the written words once icons are touched. There is also a button that will speak a sentence once the user is ready.

Newer users, still learning the pr​ogram, may choose to simply say key words rather than create grammatically correct sentences. Commonly used sentences can be programmed into the device for ease of use. For example, "My name is Bob." Once the user is more comfortable with the device, vocabularly can be expanded and sentences created.

This device is an excellent choice in AAC devices because of the weight (only 3 lbs, 6 oz) and the ability to grow with the user.

The following tips are provided by The Center for AAC and Autism for use by teachers with students using AACs in the classroom.

For more information, see [|//Educational Guidelines for Preschool Children with Disorders in relating and Communicating//] by Serena Wieder, PhD, and Barbara Kalmanson, PhD . 6. Teach concepts before you test them: Kids with language delays have difficulty learning concepts by being told what they mean. They need to see it and experience it. Initially, give them an opportunity to use words and see a response without a right or wrong answer. Ask open ended questions. Examples are listed below media type="custom" key="4618262"
 * 1) Know the vocabulary available on the child's device: print it out and keep it on your desk. Know the locations of words on the device so that you can teach them.
 * 2) Frame activities and questions so that child can answer with available vocabulary.
 * 3) Don't expect the child to answer in full sentences; accept telegraphic utterances and interpret them in context
 * 4) Accept all forms of communication: gestures, facial expressions, intelligible verbalizations. If you understand what the child is saying, don't make him "say it on your device."
 * 5) Modify teaching activities based on the individual child's sensory needs and language skills
 * A child with poor receptive language skills and/or poor sensory modulation will need a lot of one-on-one teaching. Teaching opportunities should be multi-sensory to address sensory needs and teach meanings of words in context.
 * The more receptive language skills gained, the more the child will be able to do more traditional teaching tasks. These should be <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman';"> added slowly as the child's ability to sit, attend, engage, and understand increases.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">Days of the week: Let them say any day, then the teacher or class sings a song about that day
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">Kid can say a feeling and other kids have to act out that feeling
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">Teach names of other students by having all the kids hide and then pop out when their name is said on the device <span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 90%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">During circle time, let them choose whatever they want to say about themselves. Once they say it, the teacher could say, "That's right, you live in Memphis," and show them a picture of their home or "That's right! Your name is Joe," and show a picture of the child.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9.72pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">The child could practice "go" and "stop" to start and stop music, get the other kids to start and stop when walking down the hall, to tell the other kids when to start and stop dancing, etc <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10.8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10.8pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">Literacy Activities: When writing stories, ask the child what he wants the story to be about. After reading a page/story, ask the child to tell you a word about the story <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">.