Language Services for Adults with Heart Defects

Speech and Language Pathologists (SLPs) are experts in how people speak, use, and understand language.   

SLPs can help people with skills such as: 

• pronouncing sounds and words clearly

• understanding and using more words

• understanding and using many different kinds of sentences

• using their voice loudly and clearly

• using gestures and tools to communicate

• having a conversation

• understanding the social norms of interactions and conversation

• telling and understanding a story 

• understanding directions

• understanding nonliteral language

• understanding what they read

Young adults with language problems can often get services and accommodations from their schools if they are enrolled in an 18-22 program. Public school services and accommodations are free to qualifying families. 

Special Education services for language skills could be:

• Individual classes with a Speech/Language Pathologist

• Classes with a Speech/Language Pathologist and a group of kids

• Conversation groups

• An aide to help in class

• An augmentative communication evaluation, to figure out tools that can help the child communicate

Accommodations are changes to how a student is taught.  Modifications are changes in what a student is taught. Special Education accommodations or modifications for language could be:

• All assignments in both writing and speech

• An outline of every lesson

• Lessons or books that use shorter sentences or a simpler vocabulary

• Extra time to answer questions

• An FM system (special speaker) to make speech easier to hear and focus on

• The teacher checking for understanding

• Using an electronic device to communicate (augmentative communication device)

• Using illustrated cards to communicate

Some young adults with a CHD have trouble using spoken language to communicate.   

It may be hard for them to: 

• Make sounds 

• Say words 

• Use their voice 

• Remember words 

• Form sentences 

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) includes tools and strategies that young adults can use to communicate in many ways. 

AAC can help young adults to: 

• Say what they want and need 

• Share their ideas 

• Show what they know and what they have learned

• Feel heard and validated 

• Have conversations 

• Build relationships with others 

• Develop speech 

• Write

There are many different kinds of AAC, and new tools are being developed all the time.  

AAC can include: 

• Communication boards with pictures 

• Spelling words by pointing to letters

• Drawing or writing

• Devices that speak when a picture is chosen

• Devices that speak when words are chosen

• Devices that speak when a person types

• Typing words and sentences

• Gestures and facial expressions 

Some teens only use AAC. Other teens use AAC plus speech or sign language.  

When a young adult has a lot of trouble using either spoken language or sign language, AAC might be recommended. 

AAC Specialists are usually Speech and Language Pathologists with extra training. They work in many settings: 

• Hospitals 

• School systems 

• Private clinics 

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a way of understanding people’s actions, and teaching people new skills.  ABA can help some young adults with heart defects to communicate, especially teens with intellectual disability (ID) and/or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and substantial communication impairment. ABA is usually most effective for language development when it is offered in addition to Speech and Language Therapy. 

 ABA is provided by a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), or an ABA technician.   

ABA providers often use a combination of language and other types of communication, such as pictures and gestures. 

ABA treats language as a “function.”  This means that ABA providers look at how people use language to accomplish goals.  ABA providers help young people to communicate their wants, needs, and ideas more effectively.   

Young adults can always strive for fuller language and communication skills, and can usually make ongoing progress. If young adults with heart defects are impaired by reduced language skills, they should continue to get help to make as much progress as possible. Language is an important gateway to both cognition and social connection, and increased language development almost always has significant positive effects in a person's life.

This content was reviewed by a speech and language pathologist at Boston Children's Hospital.

Developmental care is best when it is local. Families local to Boston can receive care from the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Program (CNP), the Boston Adult Congenital Heart (BACH) program, and/or the Speech-Language Pathology department. Families from other regions can use the link below to find their local care team.