Language Services for Adults with Heart Defects
Ages 18 - 24 Years
Young adults with heart defects can still make progress in their language and communication skills, and they do not need to settle if they are unhappy with how well they can use language. Young adults can get help for their language skills in school, in a hospital, or in the community.
In this section
Speech and Language Therapy
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
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Finding Speech and Language Therapy
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Speech and Language Pathologists work in many settings. They work in:
Schools
Hospitals
Clinics
Young adults with a heart defect often qualify for free Speech and Language Therapy through their school district if they have a disability and are enrolled in an 18-22 program. If a family worries about their young adult's language, they can request a speech and language evaluation from the district.
When an adult has a heart defect and language problems, medical insurance will often pay for Speech and Language Therapy. Families can talk with their doctors about options for Speech and Language services in their area.
School Supports for Language Problems
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
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Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
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
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Examples of AAC
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.
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How to Find AAC
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
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Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
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.
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Ongoing Intervention
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.
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