Harness the Power of Communication

Communication is a vital social tool. When one cannot communicate effectively, it will be challenging to engage society. That is why you should address communication issues in children as early as possible. Here's why and how:

Why you would need to identify and address communication issues as early as possible?Communication is a necessary part of the development process in children. It is the foundation of any form of relationship, whether it be romantic, platonic etc. Deficiencies regarding communication can hamper the growth of children.

If you can identify communication issues early, you can seek professional help from providers of applied behavior analysis and receive verbal behavior training. Providers like us can leverage the child’s existing strengths and remediate any weakness as early as after detection. Because identification and treatment are early, there is a higher chance of success.

How would providers like us address the issues? We would the principles of Verbal Behavior Training, a method based on the theories of behaviorist B.F. Skinner.

This approach encourages individuals to learn language by connecting words with their purposes. The individual learns that words can help them get desired objects or results.

Verbal Behavior therapy does not focus on words as labels only (dog, car, etc.). Rather, it teaches why we use words and how they are useful in making requests and communicating ideas.

Verbal Behavior focuses on four types of words:

• Mand: A request, such as saying “Cookie,” to ask for a cookie

• Tact: A comment used to share an experience or draw attention, such as “airplane” to point out an airplane

• Intraverbal: A word used to respond or answer a question, such as “Where do you go to school?” “Castle Park Elementary”

• Echoic: A repeated, or echoed, word, such as “Cookie?” “Cookie!” This is important as imitating will help the student learn.

For us at Potterhouse, your loved one's development is one of our primary concerns. When it comes to their speech and communication, we will address them as best we can.