ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION INDIVIDUALIZED PROGRAM OF FOR MOTHERS OF NON ORALIZED CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY.

Abstract

Introduction: Children with cerebral palsy, in which disorders of cognitive, communicative, perceptual and sensory-motor nature may be present can benefit from Augmentative and Alternative Communication essential resource. Purpose:The objective of this study was to evaluate an Individualized Program of Augmentative and Alternative Communication for mothers of children with Cerebral Palsy. Method: The study included three mothers and their children with a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy.  In order to verify the effects of the intervention it used Multiple Baseline Design cross subjects including three phases: baseline, intervention and follow-up. Results: The results showed that children with cerebral palsy presented improvements in communication skills and made ​​use of alternative communication procedures successfully. There was an increase of expressive skills by no oral language means, attention span and the active participation of children in dialogic activity were evident with their mothers. Conclusion: With the intervention, the mothers’ repertoire   was significant and they had an excellent performance in using the communication capabilities as well as an expressive performance by children in communicating their desires through the figures. The procedures showed an increasing on the communicative interaction and autonomy of children.