Communication symbols & rate enhancement

Question 1

Symbol

Answer 1

stands for something (bat signal)

Question 2

Referent

Answer 2

what the symbol stands for ( bat signal stands for batman)

Question 3

Iconicity

Answer 3

How easy is it to recognize the referent. It is an abstract or concrete symbol? Does it look like what it represents?

Question 4

Transparent symbols

Answer 4

symbols that are easily guessable are called “transparent” symbols.

Question 5

Opaque symbols

Answer 5

symbols that are hard to recognize such as written words are considered opaque.

Question 6

Translucent symbols

Answer 6

symbols that are both opaque and transparent are considered translucent symbols- these are learnable and need additional information to be able to guess the referent. Ex “V” for victory of for peace.

Question 7

Aided symbols

Answer 7

Aided symbols are physical materials used, pictures, real objects, communication boards, devices.

Question 8

Disadvantages & advantages of aided symbols

Answer 8

Disadvantages: may forget them, reduces spontaneity & at times communication devices have hefty prices.

Advantages: may be more understandable than some unaided symbols

Question 9

Unaided symbols

Answer 9

Unaided symbols- no physical material. Consist of gestures, facial expressions, vocalizations, verbalizations, signing.

Question 10

Disadvantages & advantages of unaided symbols

Answer 10

Disadvantage: difficult for unfamiliar listeners to undestand

Advantages: quick, low cost, durable, available

Question 11

Natural gesture

Answer 11

natural gestures- gestures we use everyday- hands, total body or face.

Question 12

Emblems

Answer 12

gestures that represent an entire message- ex: shrug of shoulders to indicate “ I don’t know”

Question 13

Illustrators

Answer 13

gestures to supplement the message- used with speech to convey more meaning.

Question 14

Affect displays

Answer 14

facial expressions or body movements that represent feelings, emotional states.

Question 15

Regulators

Answer 15

nonverbal ways we regulate behavior- use of eye contact to indicate turn taking behavior.

Question 16

Adaptors

Answer 16

gestures used mainly when alone and aren’t intentionally used to communicate.

Question 17

Examples of some subtle nonverbal, nonvocal communication behaviors- developmentally delayed

Answer 17

1. mutual eye gaze toward or away from speaker or object; ability to maintain eye gaze to initiate interaction, request, comment and question.
2. facial expressions such as smile-happy, scowl/head no displeasure, large smile, wide eyes- excitement, raising eyebrows- question.
3. hold out two items- oh you want this? turning head or body toward item/ activity/ location of interest to request or choose; and turning away to indicate refusal or what is not of interest.

Question 18

Examples of some subtle nonverbal, nonvocal communication behaviors- developmentally delayed

Answer 18

4. change in body movement and tone of body extremities, signaling happiness, displeasure, awareness of new person or sounds, readiness to respond, initiation of interaction, gain attention.
5. pointing, reaching toward, touching, taking items of interest to request or choose item/action (e.g taking partners hand to request something) rejecting my pushing, throwing, shoving.
6. tugging, touching to gain attention, take a turn, request.

Question 19

Examples of some subtle, nonverbal, nonvocal communication behaviors

Answer 19

7. moving (e.g crawling toward, walking, scooting, leaning) toward and away from people/items/activities to request and reject
8. general body posture- (e.g relaxed, slumped, head up, etc) to indicate interest and disinterest.

Question 20

Manual sign systems

Answer 20

1. How iconic are they
2. Motoric complexity- research has shown that signs with these features are easiest to learn- those that require contact between the hands, are symmetrical (both hands make the same shape), are produced within the users visual field, require a single, simple hand shape and that require the same hand movement be repeated.
3. it is possible to combine signing with other techniques. Speaking and signing at the same time is called Total Communication or TC.

Question 21

Types of manual sign systems

Answer 21

ASL- American sign language- developed specifically for deaf comm- has own set of rules for grammar.

Signing Exact English- developed as an alternative to signed english

Key word signing- sign only key words

Question 22

Unaided symbols: gestures & vocalizations

Answer 22

Vocalizations and speech
- vocal/ auditory signals- some are unintentional, others are intentional- you sometimes might have to work on making them intentional

• vocal noise, click, buzzer, bell to gain attention, signal message such as help or my turn- for bed ridden patients
• differentiated vocalizations ( by variation in pitch, loudness, prosodic patterns, duration) to signal happiness, displeasure, excitement, agreement, disagreement

Question 23

Unaided symbols: gestures & vocalizations

Answer 23

speech can be used by communication partner when doing ** auditory scanning** do you want this row?

American indian ( clients with aphasia) 250 vocal/gestures, in combination- can convey many messages.

Question 24

Aided symbols- tangible symbols

Answer 24

Aided symbols can be tangible, representational, abstract, or orthographic.

Question 25

Aided symbols- tangible symbols

Answer 25

• you can hold them, touch them.
• real objects- the most tangible & iconic- if you don’t know where to start with client- start here
• miniature objects- controversial, somewhat abstract- not as concrete

Question 26

Aided symbols- tangible symbols

Answer 26

partial objects- part of the activity ex. wand from bubbles

artificially associated and textured symbols- you select some shapes or textures that you intentionally associate with a referent- green square to represent cafeteria or apple to represent cafeteria.