Transcript Language Acquisition Through Motor Planning LAMP

Communication Matters 2014
Development of LAMP in the UK
Andrea McGuinness
Hayley Power
Aims of Today
To feedback on facts and figures to date
regarding LAMP in the UK
 Discuss demographical information on
clients using LAMP
 Data around implementation
 What has worked most successfully and
hypotheses as to why
 Short case study of individuals using the
LAMP approach.

Why we got involved…
It made sense…
 Had great results…
 High expectations…..
 Solid theory…..
 Good clinical practice

Reminder - What is LAMP?

LAMP is a therapeutic approach based on
sensory integration principles

The goal is to give individuals who are
nonverbal or have limited verbal abilities a
method of independently and spontaneously
expressing themselves in any setting

LAMP focuses on giving the individual
independent access to vocabulary on voice
output AAC devices that use consistent motor
plans for accessing vocabulary.
Components of LAMP
Auditory
Signals
Natural
Consequences
Readiness
to Learn
Consistent &
Unique Motor
Plans
Joint
Engagement
Waiver…!!!

All data collected from activity of centre
for AAC and autism UK (CAA UK)

Other assessment centres / suppliers /
individuals will have trialled and
recommended LAMP
LAMP Trainings
17 two day courses across the UK (12 by
us)
 Format is day one working with a
selected number of students and their
team including where possible parents.
 Day two is the theory behind LAMP,
implementation and setting of aims
 Trial period and review of progress

LAMP Training Sessions UK
Format of Day One
Sessions with student and their team- all
sessions videoed. Included a variety of items
known to be motivating to the child.
 Following the child’s lead, the therapist engaged
in play with the child centred around item(s) of
their choice.
 Communication opportunities created,
vocabulary use modelled.
 Core vocabulary was modelled either in single
words, or in short phrases according to each
child’s language abilities.

Format of Day One
No verbal prompting, but clear verbal
models of target words given
 Physical prompting faded as quickly as
possible
 All communication attempts responded
to with natural consequences
 Students chosen by the host

LCP Scheme
LAMP certified professionals
 2 qualified
 9 in development
 LAMP certified practitioners
 1 in development and 2 expressions of
interest

Location of LCPs
LCP applications
Most come from personal contacts
 Most of the northern trainings have been
organised through CAA UK

◦ Work with at least one person
◦ Share videos for feedback and evidence
◦ Pre and post LAMP use communication
profile
◦ Case History
◦ Ongoing support, equipment
How many individuals have trialled
LAMP?
Liberator figures
June 2011 – July 2014 – 363 known trials
Outcomes
Full device
20%
Decision making stage
10%
Seeking funding
8%
Ongoing trials
14%
On hold
6%
Apps/ low tech/ other
42%
CAA UK Information
January 2012 – July 2014
 Figures on a much smaller scale
Numbers
 12 training days
 Have kept in contact with 8 locations following
training
 Contact maintained on request - limited

From those 8 follow ups

Figures based on
◦ Individuals seen on day 1 of the training
◦ Individuals supported through LCP scheme
◦ Ongoing individuals from therapists own case
load
42 individuals
 62% of these gone on to use LAMP
approach for expressive communication
 Clinical approach

CAA UK
Device
 Unity App
 Words for Life
 Seeking Funding
 Other

21%
32%
3%
6%
38%
From 8 follow ups
Without and with support
Communication level
Early communication level
 Individuals using other methods

◦ Stuck
◦ Not meeting their needs
Individuals with some spoken expressive
language
 Good non verbal communicators

Communication level
Difficult one to call
 Standardised assessment to fit all those
students not practical
 VERY rough analysis
 Biographical data from LCPs
 Informal observation

Communication level
Figures show a mix
 Majority of people put forward for LAMP
trials to CAA are at an early level of
communication
 Can’t draw any definite conclusions
 Hypothesis – language level does not
affect success
 Try...

Sensory levels
Does this make a difference?
 Maintaining sensory levels is important to
the success of the interaction
 Over / under

◦ Difficult to engage the individual
LAMP

Can we make any hypotheses?

Any patterns emerging?
Success criteria

Support
◦ Therapy
◦ Home
◦ School
Motivation
 Sensory levels
 Training - understanding approach

Alex
Alex – aged 11
 Dual diagnoses ASD and CP
 Used 4 Talk 4
 Used iPad with Words for Life app since
Oct 2012

Alex’s “LAMP”
4 Talk 4
LAMP
One hit one message
Using for approx. 18 months
Up to 4 messages
Approx 100 words
Words for Life app on iPad
Adult changed overlays
Sequenced 84 location
Keyguard and case
Gross motor movement
Fine motor with index finger
Request
Request, greet, negate, direct,
comment, give information, describe
Challenging, self injurious behaviour
Much reduced
Some mis-hits
Pre-recorded phrases
Novel utterances, e.g. ‘down bike’
Up to 5 words per utterance
Increased positive vocalisation, word
approximations for ‘more’, ‘hi’ +
names
Joel
Joel – aged 7
 Diagnosed ASD
 Before LAMP, no verbal communication,
no effective AAC
 Used Vantage Lite since October 2012

Joel’s “LAMP”
Communication pre LAMP
LAMP
Take adult to desired item
Progressed to verbal communication –
short utterances
No verbal communication
2-4 word level phrases
84 sequenced Unity on Vantage Lite
Frustration and self injury
Still frustrated, screams, no self injury
Non verbal communication to request Request, greet, negate, direct,
comment, express emotion
Closed questions – is it this – or this?
Open questions- what do you want?
Spontaneous language generation –
not all taught
Alex video

Choosing TV programme

Novel utterances

Communication partner training
◦
◦
◦
◦
Vocabulary choice
Respond
Error free
Modelling
Developments
More one day trainings followed by
support for those interested in taking it
further
 Survey Monkey – follow up after 3
months of initial training session
 New research – segmentation / auditory
signals
 Support further research

facebook
Conclusion
Research is ongoing in UK and USA
 For more information
 www.aacandautism.com
 www.liberator.co.uk


Contact:
◦ [email protected]
◦ [email protected]