Sally Millar

Retired, personal views - AAC in Education

[Dan Wuori @DanWuori]

Your baby may not be speaking quite yet.

But that doesn’t mean they aren’t a skilled communicator.

And the better we read their emotional cues the better we can become at meeting their needs.

Take this little communicator, for example.

We don’t know exactly what the problem is. But we know he’s mildly distressed… and that’s half the battle, because at this age we can quickly narrow the list of possible causes.

Is he past due for a feeding or diaper change? Is he experiencing discomfort? Uncomfortable around an unfamiliar adult?

It’s not an infinite list.

The key is developing the skills and disposition to “hear” their message.

Lacking conventional speech, infants rely heavily on non-verbal communication to express their moods, needs, and wants.

Of course emotional cues aren’t always as obvious at those shown here.

But keep a sharp eye on your baby and you might just be surprised at how effectively they communicate.

Even without words.

This little one was shared to IG by cutebabiesvibe.

[Sally Millar @MillarSally]

This is great

[Dan Wuori @DanWuori]

Do babies develop accents even before they can speak conventionally?

The short answer is yes… and these linguistic markers begin even sooner than you might think.

So many of you tagged me in this video yesterday featuring an infant that babbles with the same Scouse accent as his mother.

Other than “no” he doesn’t speak a single conventional word, but listen to how the rhythm and intonation of his vocalizations mirror those to which he is exposed daily.

As hearing becomes functional during the third trimester, infants are exposed to the distinct patterns of their mothers’ native language - with studies suggesting newborns can already distinguish (and prefer) what will become their native tongue only hours after birth.

Incredibly this learning doesn’t wait until the babbling stage to evidence itself.

Research suggests that even the cries of newborns reflect this preference.

That’s right: babies cry with an accent.

One major study on the topic showed that French babies cry with a rising intonation, while German infants favor a falling melody - both reflecting the patterns of their native languages.

We’re only just beginning to understand the deep learning that begins in utero. It’s just more evidence that the period from prenatal to three is the most critical window in all of human development.

This little Liverpudlian was shared to TT by iamcustardpot.

[Sally Millar @MillarSally]

@BBCWomansHour @christinalamb If she is not already aware, Christine Lamb should see a doctor / ENT specialist/ Speech & Language Therapist asap. Her voice is very weak and almost entirely composed of ‘vocal fry’ with no voicing at all, which could indicate an underlying pathology that needs attention.

[terry christian @terrychristian]

The huge tragedy of the UK is that for 31 of past 44 years The Tories and their asset stripping short termism has downgraded our country.
Decent housing was turned into an unaffordable asset - we have gone from the second most equal society in Europe ( after Germany) in 1975 to the most unequal society in Europe with crumbling infrastructure , collapsing services, bankrupt councils and an NHS about to implode. All the tories do is spread hate so their backers , fossil fuel companies and others can rip us all off in perpetuity . Once they ate voted out they must never be allowed to resurrect again. They are a worse plague than Covid 19 in this country, they offer nothing but pain, death ignorance and insecurity

[Sally Millar @MillarSally]

Very interesting!

[Sally Millar @MillarSally]

At last, a sensible take on schools and the gender debacle. https://t.co/s6dEyyfxf0

[Sally Millar @MillarSally]

AAC is for the birds! Fascinating. https://t.co/yegKFSU4Hk

[Sally Millar @MillarSally]

Exactly!!

[Sally Millar @MillarSally]

@TruePublica @Evertype Only one of them? That’s a tough choice!

[Sally Millar @MillarSally]

@atstewart They’ll still always have their multi millionaire donors….

[Janet Scott @ScottJinty]

AAC users & family members in the UK! Do you want to help RCSLT update its guidance on #AAC. If you are interested & you want to know more, email Janice Murray ([email protected] ) or Helen Whittle ([email protected] ) for more info before the end of September

[Sally Millar @MillarSally]

@allanbw2 Disappointing, Allan, you have your reputation to live up to! 🤣🤣🤣

[Sally Millar @MillarSally]

@allanbw2 @ZOOvenues So sorry to miss. Hope your last two go great!

[Sally Millar @MillarSally]

@RedAlert_Cancer Oh wow, thank goodness you didn’t fall! The maddening thing is that probably you will be performing absolutely PERFECTLY SMOOTHLY AND BRILLIANTLY in every way just as you get to your last day…..

[Sally Millar @MillarSally]

@RedAlert_Cancer Allan, I am terribly sorry to miss your play - I hadn’t realised that the dates exactly matched our holiday week away! Wishing you all the very very best with it all!! (NOT saying ‘break a leg’, in case you actually do, following your wallet / petrol etc. saga…)

[Mark Steel @mrmarksteel]

So 370 years after the Civil War, we have arrived at a point where if the Royal Family overthrew parliament and took control of the country, that would be a move to the left.

[Sally Millar @MillarSally]

@allanbw2 @AdamLenson Thanks Allan, I’ll watch this. Would never have come across it myself. My brother has melanoma now, quite advanced.

[Gillian McNeill 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 @gxmcneill]

Really grateful that @CALLScotland had a visit today from Minister with responsibility for #AAC @KevinStewartSNP. Great opportunity to discuss the needs of children/young people with communication difficulties, how AAC equipment can help and how assessment and support is needed.

[Sally Millar @MillarSally]

@AndyBurnhamGM It’s also unfair and discriminatory. It disadvantages those without money for smart phones/computers/ wifi, and/ or the skills to use them. Ticket prices should be transparent and fair for all, equally.

[Sally Millar @MillarSally]

@AndyBurnhamGM All these examples of madly different prices just serve to illustrate what an utterly dysfunctional system we have here. Just as it shouldn’t be so expensive, it shouldn’t be so complicated & time consuming just to find a reasonable ticket price.