03/15/2026
Child Inspired Spotlightš¦...
Finding His Voice: Laneās Communication Journey
Lane is a bright and determined four-year-old who brings curiosity and personality to every therapy session. With a complex medical history and an articulation and phonological disorder, expressing himself clearly can sometimes be a challenge. While Lane has plenty to say, communication partners may occasionally have difficulty understanding his speech.
To support Laneās growing communication skills, our therapy team, led by his speech therapist Ms. Sarah, has begun introducing an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device as a helpful tool to supplement his speech. AAC does not replace talkingāinstead, it supports and strengthens spoken language by giving Lane another way to share his thoughts, needs, and ideas when words alone are difficult for others to understand.
One of Laneās therapy goals is learning how to use his AAC device to provide helpful context for his listeners. For example, if Lane says a word that is hard to understand, he can select a related word or phrase on his device to give his communication partner a clearer idea of what he means. This helps reduce frustration and keeps conversations moving.
Another important goal is helping Lane pair his spoken words with selections on his AAC device. This combination encourages him to slow down his speaking rate and focus on producing clearer speech sounds while still ensuring that his message is understood.
Lane has already shown great enthusiasm exploring his device and discovering the many ways he can use it to communicate. With practice, patience, and continued support, the AAC device will serve as a powerful bridgeāhelping Lane share his ideas more confidently while continuing to develop his speech skills.
We are so proud of the hard work Lane and his family are putting into therapy and look forward to watching his communication grow stronger every day.
