Facilitated Communication and Autism
By 4muskateers
04-13-08
Facilitated Communication and Autism
From Lisa Jo Rudy,
Your Guide to Autism.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
Does Facilitated Communication Really Work?
According to the Facilited Communication Institute at Syracuse University in New York, facilitated communication training, FCT, (hereafter called facilitated communication or FC), is one form of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) that has been an effective means of expression for some individuals with labels of autism and other developmental disabilities. It entails learning to communicate by typing on a keyboard or pointing at letters, images, or other symbols to represent messages. Facilitated communication involves a combination of physical and emotional support to an individual who has difficulties with speech and with intentional pointing (unassisted typing).
Over the years, FC has received a good deal of attention, and many researchers have looked into its validity.
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As a result, there are various points of view about FC's real usefulness.
The Case Against FC
In general, mainstream practitioners reject FC, and organizations including the American Speech-Hearing-Language Association, the American Psychological Association and others have specific policies stating that FC is an unproven technique which has the potential to cause more harm than good.
Those people who reject FC claim that the FC facilitator -- who physically supports the arm or hand of the typer -- is, in fact, tapping out his own conscious or unconscious thoughts. Occasionally, those thoughts have included unfounded claims of abuse against parents and caregivers.
To explain the FC phenomenon, some researchers have compared FC to a Ouija board. A ouija board is a board with letters on it. Two people place their fingers on a marker, and spirits of the dead are supposed to guide their hands to letters on the board, spelling out a message from beyond the grave. Very often a message is, in fact, spelled out -- but research has showed that the users themselves are unconsciously moving their hands.
The Case for FC
Those people who support FC as a real tool for communication with nonverbal individuals on the autism spectrum have done their own research. Most of the time, supporting studies have focused on individual case studies. To prove that the typer is, indeed, typing his own thoughts, they asked questions that the supporter could not possibly answer. In some cases, the typer actually typed out answers that made perfect sense.
The Facilitated Communication Institute lists many peer-reviewed case studies like those described above, most dating from the early and mid 1990s when FC was most popular. In addition, a new but similar technique called "Rapid Pointing" has helped raise new interest in the approach. Rapid Pointing is described in detail in Portia Iversen's book Strange Son, and FC can be seen in action in the new video Autism: The Musical.
Should We Try FC?
While there are certainly organizations and institutions that will provide FC training (including Syracuse University), FC is not a first choice for communication. Before getting involved with FC, it makes sense to try teaching a child with autism to use better-known, better-understood techniques. Some of the options include picture cards, American Sign Language, electronic tools such as augmentative speech devices, and, of course, ordinary (unsupported) typing. Not only are these techniques less controversial, but they're all more widely usable and understood.
In the long run, if a nonverbal individual is interested in communicating with the larger community, it makes sense to teach techniques that will allow this individual to communicate independently and fluently. If, however, more typical tools have failed, FC may be a possible direction to try. If you do try FC, be sure to investigate the provider and the therapist thoroughly to ensure you're not the victim of a scam.
From Lisa Jo Rudy,
Your Guide to Autism.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
Does Facilitated Communication Really Work?
According to the Facilited Communication Institute at Syracuse University in New York, facilitated communication training, FCT, (hereafter called facilitated communication or FC), is one form of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) that has been an effective means of expression for some individuals with labels of autism and other developmental disabilities. It entails learning to communicate by typing on a keyboard or pointing at letters, images, or other symbols to represent messages. Facilitated communication involves a combination of physical and emotional support to an individual who has difficulties with speech and with intentional pointing (unassisted typing).
Over the years, FC has received a good deal of attention, and many researchers have looked into its validity.
Sponsored Links
Autism
Flash cards, social stories & tools to teach children with autism
www.nlconcepts.com
Autism Teaching Materials
Social stories, lesson plans, sensory activities, and more.
www.autisminspiration.com
Understanding ASDs
Learn about the latest treatment options and research findings
www.ianproject.org
As a result, there are various points of view about FC's real usefulness.
The Case Against FC
In general, mainstream practitioners reject FC, and organizations including the American Speech-Hearing-Language Association, the American Psychological Association and others have specific policies stating that FC is an unproven technique which has the potential to cause more harm than good.
Those people who reject FC claim that the FC facilitator -- who physically supports the arm or hand of the typer -- is, in fact, tapping out his own conscious or unconscious thoughts. Occasionally, those thoughts have included unfounded claims of abuse against parents and caregivers.
To explain the FC phenomenon, some researchers have compared FC to a Ouija board. A ouija board is a board with letters on it. Two people place their fingers on a marker, and spirits of the dead are supposed to guide their hands to letters on the board, spelling out a message from beyond the grave. Very often a message is, in fact, spelled out -- but research has showed that the users themselves are unconsciously moving their hands.
The Case for FC
Those people who support FC as a real tool for communication with nonverbal individuals on the autism spectrum have done their own research. Most of the time, supporting studies have focused on individual case studies. To prove that the typer is, indeed, typing his own thoughts, they asked questions that the supporter could not possibly answer. In some cases, the typer actually typed out answers that made perfect sense.
The Facilitated Communication Institute lists many peer-reviewed case studies like those described above, most dating from the early and mid 1990s when FC was most popular. In addition, a new but similar technique called "Rapid Pointing" has helped raise new interest in the approach. Rapid Pointing is described in detail in Portia Iversen's book Strange Son, and FC can be seen in action in the new video Autism: The Musical.
Should We Try FC?
While there are certainly organizations and institutions that will provide FC training (including Syracuse University), FC is not a first choice for communication. Before getting involved with FC, it makes sense to try teaching a child with autism to use better-known, better-understood techniques. Some of the options include picture cards, American Sign Language, electronic tools such as augmentative speech devices, and, of course, ordinary (unsupported) typing. Not only are these techniques less controversial, but they're all more widely usable and understood.
In the long run, if a nonverbal individual is interested in communicating with the larger community, it makes sense to teach techniques that will allow this individual to communicate independently and fluently. If, however, more typical tools have failed, FC may be a possible direction to try. If you do try FC, be sure to investigate the provider and the therapist thoroughly to ensure you're not the victim of a scam.
Messages posted for this Topic
FC
By efagan
04-13-08
I do not recommend paying a provider or therapist to use FC or any other treatment that is not fully supported by the research. If a family wants to play around with it it should not become a substitute for a therapeutic communication system.
