We have been waiting for SpeechTree^TM to be available ever since we first stumbled (clicked) upon their website a few months ago.  We are happy the wait is over. SpeechTree  is an awesome augmentative & alternative communication (AAC) learning tool. It is actually two apps in one.  It is a well thought out full featured AAC app.  It is also an interactive AAC vocabulary learning app.  These two components of the SpeechTree app function separately but are integrated for AAC learning.  The SpeechTreeapp provides a robust communication and language learning format.[break]

[break]The home screen for SpeechTree is a simple clear tree with 3 ‘leaves’ or tabs on it. The ‘leaves’ take you to either Lessons, Communication, or Data.[break]

[break]The Communication Leaf opens the AAC portion of the app.  The AAC app is well designed for quick communication of single words or sentences.  Each page has starter phrases that would begin a sentence with easy access to the possible sentence endings (i.e., I see a _____ or I need ______).  The starter phrases are excellent because they easily allow the learner to request or comment in a sentence building format.  All parts of the sentence appear in a message window and then the sentence can be accessed in full.  The voice output of the message is not heard until the message window is activated. This feature is very helpful in teaching learners to remember to activate the message window.  There are up to 12 cells/words on a screen but each screen can be scrolled to display more words.[break]

[break]This AAC portion of the app was designed based on some best practice principles of AAC.  There is a core word page, quick words, some color coding features, text to speech, and full customization options.  The message window feature provides many options for teaching sentence building. The programming part of this app is easy to use even if you have never worked with an AAC app or device. We also appreciate the attention to social communication.  The starter phrases comprise much more than ‘I want,’ but also remember to add ‘I see,’ ‘He is,’ and much more.  This may not seem like a big distinction but it can be for communicators who need specific opportunities to practice social communication (those with autism spectrum disorders and other social communication difficulties).[break]

[break]There are other important features that make SpeechTree  an awesome app. There is easy back-up so customization is never lost (if you do it).  You can access recently used words and phrases and know what day/time they were used. This allows you to make sure you are providing many, many communication opportunities in multiple activities throughout the day.  The text to speech option will automatically add images to the sentence if the image is in the library.  This is awesome from a teaching standpoint because some learners can spell words but not necessarily have a full understanding of the meaning of the word. This supports comprehensive visual language learning.[break]

[break]

Overall, the Communication Leaf is a great component part of SpeechTree as an AAC app for new AAC learners and facilitators.  We know that using AAC requires teaching, multiple opportunities, and a lot of practice.  SpeechTree integrates evidence based AAC principles into the app design which helps make it easy for facilitators to teach and AAC users to learn.  For that reason alone we are very excited. But there is more for AAC teaching…

 

SpeechTree also contains a Lesson ‘Leaf’.  The lessons are set up using applied behavioral analysis methodology. Settings can customize anything from reinforcement to cueing. The lessons are arranged in three parts: teaching, receptive and expressive. All the lessons are organized according by category (i.e., animals, food,activities, body parts and clothing etc.). For each category the teaching part allows the learner to look at and hear target words.  For receptive lessons,  the learner listens and identifies spoken words. The learner sees 6 pictures and must choose the target spoken word.  There are systematic prompts so if the learner identifies the wrong word, the field automatically decreases to 4 then 2 then 1.  We love the focus on positive learning.  Great care was taken to support AAC learners.  In the Expressive learning section, the learner is asked to ‘Tell me what this is”.  The learner activates the AAC symbol/picture to answer. The image goes to the message window and once the message window is activated the answer is spoken.    We absolutely love this because that is how the AAC user would talk to answer questions as well as to initiate sentences and conversation. One consideration here would be to do at least some of the expressive part of the lesson with a facilitator so that if the learner answers with natural speech, the facilitator can reinforce the spoken language (preferably with an expansion – ‘yummy strawberries’ versus good talking. But it is still essential to remember that it is TALKING whether answering with a communication symbol or natural speech.

Receptive before Expressive?

Not necessarily. It is tempting to think that a learner should build receptive language skills  through the interactive Lessons before beginning with the AAC app. Or it may be tempting to wait to add new vocabulary to the AAC app until it is mastered in the lessons.  However, this would be a huge mistake.  AAC users can communicate expressively with specific vocabulary before being able to identify that vocabulary in a receptive language identification task.  We all can learn receptive and expressive language concepts simultaneously.  Think about when you got your first computer.  Did you read the manual before you began using it? Did you wait at all or did you start typing and clicking?  Sometimes we all learn from doing.  This same principle can be applied.  The AAC user can begin activating their AAC device and will learn when the communication partner responds. If they activate cells and get the things they like or someone responds with a comment the learner will begin paying attention to see what happens.  The lessons/vocabulary learning helps teach new vocabulary for a robust language foundation and improved auditory comprehension but are not a prerequisite for communicating with the Communication portion of SpeechTree.

Everyone will love the automatic data recording for each of the lessons.  Each lesson is represented in a bar graph with correct percentages for both first and second attempts.  Individual lessons can also be viewed to determine incorrect choices. Notes can be taken for each lesson which is great to chart anything atypical during the session, any patterns noticed or anything of clinical importance. These detailed data reports can be printed or emailed from within the app. The data can be collected on multiple learners which is like a dream come true for many clinicians (and teachers, and parents).

As always, we have a wish list.  It would be great if many more categories of words (verbs, adjectives, etc) were added to the lessons. Word prediction would be great in the text to speech feature.  Some color and grammar coding features also would be helpful. And last but not least, we always love to see a free or lite version.

SpeechTree was created by Angela Desideri, an internationally recognized speech-language pathologist with many years of experience working with children with autism and complex communication needs.  She has provided significant support for learning about the app, AAC, and teaching strategies. It is so exciting to watch for updates and new features.

Watch this to ‘see’ what you just read about:  http://youtu.be/viaJE_gMNXo

HOT OFF THE PRESS:

SpeechTree app was just updated to now include speak item on touch and 400-500 additional vocabulary.