Over the last two weeks I have attended the Gestalt Language Processors (GLP) Conference 2024 run by The Speech Den. Wow! What a fantastic conference this was. There were so many great speakers and the chat platform was so smart.
I did not get to watch it all, but I will be catching up on the recorded sessions as soon as possible.
If Gestalt Language Processing is new to you, here are 5 things you need to know:
- Did you know there are 2 ways we learn language? Some children start learning language with single words and add words, then move to sentences. Some children start with “scripts” and break these down to eventually reach spontaneous self-generated language. These children are GLPs.
- Not all autistic children are GLPs, and a GLP is not always autistic.
- Scripts, or delayed echolalia, are communication – we must be a detective and work out what the child is communicating. Do not ignore scripts or try to remove them.
- Don’t take all scripts literally.
- Speak from the child’s perspective.
I will be sharing some more key learning points from the conference with my team very soon but if you have been told your child is a GLP, or you want to know more, we have GLP-trained Speech and Language Therapists at The Owl Centre who can help.
I also want to give a shout out to Alison Battye and her new book all about GLP! You can pre order this now, before its release on Christmas Eve.
Meaningful Speech, who was also involved in the GLP Conference, has a free masterclass, which you can find at www.meaningfulspeech.com
Written by: Sarah
Therapy Services
therapyservices@theowltherapycentre.co.uk
