What is Functional Communication?

What is Functional Communication?

Functional Communication can be referred to the utmost fundamental communication skills and is used to express one’s basic desires and needs.

For typical children, functional communication starts to come about in their first year of life. Normally it starts with gestures and then grows to words and then sentences.  Though, for children with speech and language delays, functional communication may not start emerging independently and they will most likely require further assistance getting their messages across.

How can you help?

First, seek guidance from a Speech Pathologist who can provide professional services.

In addition to Speech services, you can help your child by finding communication methods that work at home.

Some communication methods are:

• Sign Language/Body language/Gestures
• Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
• Communication Board: Where pictures of things the child may want to communicate are placed on a board and the child is asked to point to the picture of what he wants. 
• A Communication Device: Alternative/augmentative communication (AAC) device where pictures of things the child may want to communicate are pictures on the decide and the child can select the picture and create sentences using the pictures.

References:

Functional Communication. (2016). Retrieved February 24, 2017, from https://www.speechandlanguagekids.com/functional-communication/