One Therapist Said No. The New One Says Yes. Now What?
Your child has been in speech therapy for months—maybe longer. They're making progress. Real progress. They're starting to request things, answer some questions, use scripts in ways that actually make sense. But they still can't have a back-and-forth conversation. They still rely heavily on echolalia. And now you're caught between two professionals with opposite opinions about whether an AAC device would help.
You're not being indecisive. You're being careful. And that matters.
Understanding What's Really Happening
Here's the fear that keeps parents up at night: What if giving my child a device means they'll stop trying to talk?
This fear is everywhere. It's been passed down through generations of speech therapy philosophy. And for gestalt language processors specifically, some therapists worry that a device will just become another source of scripts—another crutch.
But here's what the research actually shows: AAC does not delay or prevent verbal speech development. In fact, studies consistently demonstrate the opposite. Children who use AAC often develop more verbal language, not less. The device doesn't replace the motivation to speak—it reduces the frustration that makes communication feel impossible.
For gestalt language learners—kids who acquire language in chunks rather than single words—AAC can be especially powerful. These children are already pattern-seekers. They're already learning language by grabbing whole phrases and gradually breaking them down into flexible parts. An AAC device gives them more raw material to work with. More phrases to hear, see, and eventually adapt.
The therapist who said no may have been trained in an older model. The therapist who said yes is likely following current best practices. Neither is necessarily wrong about your child's potential—but one is working with outdated information about how AAC actually works.
What Actually Helps
1. Understand that "making progress" and "needing AAC" aren't opposites.
Your child can be progressing beautifully AND still benefit from AAC. These aren't competing truths. AAC isn't a sign of giving up on speech—it's giving your child another channel to communicate while their verbal language continues developing. Many children use AAC temporarily. Many use it alongside speech forever. Both paths are valid.
2. Look at the gaps, not just the gains.
Your child might answer "what color?" but not "what's your name?" They might request things but can't tell you about their day. AAC can fill those gaps right now—giving your child a way to express complex thoughts their verbal speech can't yet handle. Waiting until speech "catches up" means months or years of your child having thoughts they can't share.
3. Know that gestalt learners often thrive with AAC.
Because gestalt processors learn in chunks, they often take to AAC naturally. The device becomes a library of phrases they can access, combine, and eventually break apart—exactly how they're already learning to use verbal language. The visual component also helps many gestalt learners see the structure of language in ways that pure auditory input doesn't provide.
4. Ask your new therapist for a trial period.
You don't have to commit forever. A good AAC introduction includes modeling (the therapist and you using the device), low-pressure exploration, and regular assessment. After 2-3 months, you'll have real data about whether it's helping your specific child—not just theory.
The Bigger Picture
Here's the question underneath your question: Did I wait too long?
No. You didn't.
There's no window that closes. There's no age where AAC stops being useful. Four is not too late. Eight is not too late. Fourteen is not too late. The best time to introduce AAC is when you have a therapist who believes in it and a child who needs more ways to communicate.
Your child is already showing you they have things to say. "Want daddy to stand up" is a child with intentions, desires, and the drive to be understood. AAC doesn't replace that drive—it gives it somewhere else to go on the days when words won't come.
The fact that you're weighing this carefully, listening to multiple professionals, and advocating for your child's communication? That's not hesitation. That's good parenting.
If you're navigating this right now, you don't have to figure it out alone. AriaStar is here 24/7—no judgment, just support from someone who gets it.
Want more support? Explore our blog or talk to AriaStar.