Guest Blogger... Angie with Isaac and Speech Therapy with the iPad

Speech Therapy and the Monster at the end of this book


So The Monster at the End of This Book (for iPad) - Sesame Street is a HUGE hit! We've read this book to him since he was little - but there is something about having Grover tell the story makes my kids go nuts! They love this app for ipad. It is adorable. :)



Per Isaac's speech therapist's recommendation (and with her help), I programmed a storyboard on iCommunicate for iPad - Grembe Inc. with words like cow - with two sounds for the word - like moo moo, in order to encourage Isaac to make two syllables at a time. We talked about apraxia a lot and how in order to help with sequencing its good to encourage two of the same sounds at first and that will hopefully lead to two different syllable sounds later on. Wow I'm not very articulate at explaining that. Anyways, I have storyboards now with train - choo choo, clown - ha ha, owl - hoot hoot and so on. I also am making story boards with simple sounding words of the p, b, m variety. So pot, potty, pool, pop etc. just to encourage specifically the p sound. Its just like flashcards with my voice saying "pop pop pop" etc. I'm really excited because it sounds like a great way to encourage speech that we haven't really focused on. I mean we do flashcards all the time but this seems more . . . concentrated? Anyway I'm excited.

C uses iPad to answer questions

C is using the app Answers Yes No to answer questions about what he wants to play with. This is the first time we have used this app. I have now made a template to prevent the accidental swipes. C is 2 years old with cerebral palsy and seizure disorder. www.babieswithipads.blogspot.com using iPads to promote development with infants and toddlers with special needs

Moms with Apps offers Free App Friday

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/draw-stars-play-musical-animated/id367460661?mt=8   If you are interested in the latest apps reviewed by moms  Then check out the webside Moms with Apps and/or their facebook page Moms with Apps.  Each Friday they give away FREE apps.  Today they are giving away two and one looks perfect for our little ones.  It is called Draw with Stars.  I am downloading it as I type.  Don't forget to check out Free App Friday with Moms with Apps.

More App demonstrations

I have uploaded several app demonstrations on YouTube.  I will be placing one or two each day on this blog and the Facebook page.  If you want to look at them all in stead of waiting then please go to http://www.youtube.com/ and search for My Channel at bab0066vpy to watch every video and app demonstrations so far.  Thanks

Baby Rattle App Demonstration (Free)

B uses the iPad to communicate his wants

B is almost 2 and he has global developmental delays due to CDG 1a. He is using the TapSpeak App on the iPad to ask for the page of his favorite book to be turned

iPad motivating toddler with special needs

This is 2 yr old Bubby who is using the iPad to try to use his left arm and hand more. He is a victim of Shaken Baby Syndrome.  He is using the apps Bubbles, I love Fireworks lite, and Baby Shapes.

Baby A and the iPad playing the Rattle app

This is A at 2.5 yrs old and he has cerebral palsy with a mild hearing loss. He is using the iPad to learn to follow directions. He is playing the app Rattle (free).  He has to watch and time his hit to get the sun to move faster. He is in his stander playing games

C tries to draw with chalk/C draws with the iPad

C attempts to use chalk to draw.  C has cerebral palsy and a seizure disorder.  The marks on the board are my marks in attempting to show him how to make marks. 

C using Glo Draw (free) to make marks.  He is able to make marks himself without demonstration and is more engaged in the activity.

App Demonstration of Look Baby

Look Baby is a free app at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/look-baby/id325952583?mt=8  I like to use it for basic cause/effect, to encourage reaching, and to maintain visual attention/fixation.  It has simple pictures and pleasant music/sounds effects.  When working with vision I often turn the volume down or off to minimze distraction.  The child does need to touch the item on the screen not anywhere on the screen which makes it a little more challenging.

E uses beginning AAC/icomm on the iPad

This is E using the AAC app iComm.  I have it programed with a single picture of her favorite toy a lady bug and beside her to the right I have her actual lady bug toy.  E has CVI and this is the first time I have seen her look at a picture and then look at the object.  Sorry my video did not capture the objects but you can see her look at each item and the reflection of the screen in her glasses.  Her sister is helping her touch the screen but my goal was for her to fixate on a picture.  iComm is probably the easiest of all the AAC apps I have tried.  They have a lite version to try without audio and with audio is $7.99. 

J gets mad when you take his iPad away

J gets mad when we take the iPad the first time he plays. I got this reaction a few times. This child always lays down to play as you can see he tried a few times to take it to the floor but using the iPad he sat up nearly 40 minutes to play without fussing. Until of course I took it away then he went after it.  The small portion of the video is only a fraction of the fit he continued to throw as I was writing my note and leaving.  Sorry mom!!!

C not as interested in the $499 iPad but LOVES the $3 tea set

C just turned two and has ALWAYS loved toys even as an infant.  C has cerebral palsy and a seizure disorder.  I was a little surprised at his reaction to the iPad since he loves the cause/effect type play with other toys.  I did not direct C or the other kids in how to play with the iPad for their first introduction but as you can see I am so glad I got the waterproof cover since C loves to kiss the puppy.  I think the iPad was too easy and got boring too quick for C.  If you watch the next video which was taken just prior to his first intro to the iPad, C is ready for more pretend play than the iPad offered his first go around.  We will try again soon making it a bit more challenging next time.

$499 iPad from Apple

$3 Tea set from Target

I. signs using the iPad

My video skills are for the birds so sorry.  I is finding animal pictures on the iPad and signing the animals as they made the sounds.  He just turned 2 and has Prader Willi Syndrome.  His language is delayed and he only says a few words and uses a few signs. 

Bubby plays the iPad

L is 2 years old and a victim of Shaken Baby Syndrome.  He has difficulty using his left side and has CVI.  Our goal introducing L to the iPad was to get him to use his left side more.  I guess he showed us.

S using the iPad for the first time

S using the iPad for the first time. He is the youngest child I have tried it with. It is very difficult to find toys for S due to the tightness in his arms limiting his arm and hand movement. He figures it out though and I think he is proud of himself.  (S is 14 months old with holoprosencephaly)  Free app Peek a Boo Barn

Waterproof Case for iPad

There are air bubbles that do not completely go away but for using at a table with food present, using outside, or with our babies that drool it is a great way to protect your investment. Also comes with an attached cord that could be tied to a tray or desk so if the iPad is accidentally knocked off it would not hit the floor. Screen is completely accessible through the cover. Amazon.com for $19.99.
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A's First Impression of the iPad

I wish I had a before and after video...WOW

I tried the iPad today with my first toddler. He was a 34 month old with a significant speech and cognitive delay. Due to custody issues I was unable to video tape. He has an expressive vocabulary of about 20 words of only labels like cup, bed, sock, etc. He has a limited attention span. He has played with an iPhone before so he was familiar with how to navigate the touch screen. At first he just wanted to push everything and not attend to any app. I had planned on working with the free ABA Action words and Emotions apps but we know what happens to the best of plans. He had other ideas. We both settled on a story app called Little Bella's I Close My Eyes. This tells an interactive story of a little girl dreaming. This child was amazed. He has never attended to a story with me before. He listened and repeated many of the action words. I tried to encourage him to act out the bouncing, sleeping, eating, etc. to which he responded to the first two word sentence I have ever heard him speak 'NO Bounce'. During the story he became so animated and vocal saying at least 5 new words including the pronoun 'her'. He attended and played the story three times.

The child pictured is about 19 months old and has spina bifida. He has no cognitive or fine motor delays so I had not planned on using the iPad with him. He has recently started crawling so during my visit he kept trying to crawl away from the material I had been working with. His mom said "You might have to bring out the big guns to keep his attention". So out came the iPad hoping maybe he would hold still long enough to play. He was happy to push a button or two. Tapping a musical instrument on the app Babysitter he moved his body to the music a few times then he was done and unimpressed. That was the exact reaction I wanted from a child that can explore the world on their own and does not need a toy like the iPad to play or communicate. I am very pleased with my first day. (All apps mentioned are free)
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In Transit

My iPad is in Memphis, TN this morning and on its way.  Hopefully I will have it Tuesday.  YEAH.  In the mean time I am reviewing some apps and have downloaded a few to have ready.  I already have an iTouch so I have been using a few on there.  These are all free

Look Baby!
Super Match Madness
Puzzle Time Lite
My First Puzzles
Tap to Talk
Peek a Boo Lite
Talking Baby Flash Cards
Baby Smart
Baby Sitter 2 Go
Vocal Zoo

These are some of my favorites so far.