Hi everyone,

Since October 2020 Harry has been seeing a speech and language therapist via Suffolk Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy service. Before October, we had no way of really communicating with Harry, and knowing if he understood what we were saying. It was a massive guessing game, which caused our big boy lots of frustration as he couldn't tell us what he wanted or needed. You don't really appreciate the art of communication,  pointing, nodding, facial expressions, verbal words until you don't have them or they are not understood.

The initial assessment was via telephone where intensive interaction and object exchange and turn taking was recommended.

Intensive interaction is an approach used to encourage and develop early communication and social skills. This can be turn taking, eye contact, facial expressions, vocalising, sharing time and space with people.
To use intensive interaction you dont need a plan, it's about following the child's lead, getting down on your child's level, watching your child and copying what that they do whether thats stamping feet, using hands to bang a table, jumping etc and extending this over time to increase the interaction period between you both.

Object exchange is another approach used where you put items (things that motivate your child to start with) in Harrys case snacks in a see through box and the aim is to get the child to pass you the box so that you can open it for them as they are signalling this is what they would like.

Our next session which was face to face continued the above and photos were added on top of the containers. The photo is a picture of what is in the container.

In November Harry moved on to PEC Phase 1. This is where the child has to pick up, pass and give the photo to make a request that this is what they would like without help. Its also about them being able to be make these requests to a number of different people.


In December Harry had really established the picture exchange phase 1 so our speech and language therapist introduced phase 2 and 3. Phase 2 is about distance and persistent. Getting Harry to choose his photo PECS cards and bring it to you for example if I'm in the room next door or even across the room. Persistent is about seeing if Harry can persevere if I'm not looking and keep trying to give me the card. I also attended an online Intensive interaction training session. Phase 3 is about picture discrimination and teaching your child to see the difference between pictures. You start by using 1 motivating and 1 non motivating picture. Then once they have shown that they can tell the difference by giving you the card of the item they actually want, you slowly add more photos for them to choose between. Harry's book is now bursting at the seems.

In January due to lock down we had a video session. This was an extension of the above strategies and we talked about visual signs for 'stop and 'finished' to signal to Harry that we've finished an activity or to stop certain unwanted behaviours. I attended a PECS phases 1 & 2 online training session.

At the end of January Harry also had his Multiple Disciplinary Assessment which included a speech and language therapist who introduced a wait card. This was very beneficial for things like getting Harry a drink as he would get really upset if I didn't have the drink he was giving me his card for straight away, as I might have needed to fill it up etc so when the wait card is now given, Harry knows that I'm getting what he has asked for he just needs to wait a minute. 

In February we had another video session where all the above was discussed and about activities that we could do to develop Harry's understanding of language at a 1 word level using visual supports. I attended the PECS phase 3 and 4 online training course.

We also received our MDA feedback meeting which confirmed Harry's diagnosis of ASD.

We had a face to face session where we talked about the above extending the activities to make them either alittle longer or harder. The now and next boards were introduced. This is where you have a board and a red and green basket. The board has two photos on. On the left in a green border is what you are doing now and the border on the right is red. The green basket has the activities on the photos and the aim is to get Harry to complete the activity on the 'now' side first then put the item I the red basket when finished ready to move onto the 'next'. This was quite challenging as Harry likes to be on his own agenda so getting him to do activities you want him to try was hard at times but we persevered and he is alot better now and knows the routine of the now and next board.

In April we had another face to face appointment where Harry practiced his skills and PECS phase 4 was introduced. Phase 4 is the use of a sentence strip. Using a big motivator and a picture for 'I want' before the picture (in Harrys case this is a photo of bubbles). The aim is to get Harry to put the photo of the bubbles on the sentence strip next to the 'I want' and for him to pass you the sentence strip and you then to repeat the words back to him twice. On the second time pausing before saying bubbles in the hope that one day he will say the word bubbles for you.

Harry has smashed this and has picked it up so quickly. He is the bubble king after all.  

During each session Harry practices turn taking, the now and next board, the use of his pecs folder exchanging cards for a variety of items such as colours, toys and bubbles, alittle intensive interaction extending the time frame during it or the difficulty of the task. This is all completed by using different tools and playful motivating equipment at these sessions.

Harry's journey is not finished, but we are so bloomin' proud of how far Harry has come and the amount he has learnt over the past 8 months. That is all down to the guidance and support of our amazing speech and language therapist. I mentioned to our SLT that Harry was having trouble picking up a certain task of choosing the flash card for the item I was saying, our SLT recommending a small change of holding them up instead of laying them on the table and not showing Harry the cards until after I had said "where the lion" so he didn't get confused and with that small tweak, he literally went from maybe picking 1/2 flash cards to flying through a pack of 54 flash cards, showing us he knows exactly what things are. That small advise was invaluable and goes to show how amazing these workers are. 


To say a big thank you and to raise some money for the Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy service, I am running the London Half Marathon on 5th September 2021.

The funds raised will go towards additional equipment used in these vital sessions to help children like Harry who just need that extra help in order for them to flourish.

All children deserve the right to learn and I'm so grateful our Harry Boy is in the safe hands of the Suffolk Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy service, I would be really appreciative if you would please donate, thank you!

My WiSH Charity enhances the care patients at the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust receive. This comprises of; West Suffolk Hospital, Newmarket Community Hospital and community services in Suffolk.We fundraise for all wards, depts and services. We support everything from emergency to the elderly, bones to babies, and cataract to cancer care. You donate to the area closest to your heart.With a population of more than 280,000 people, raising money to enhance the care our community receives is vital, and that's why we need your help.