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Ms Kadayer's knowledge and skills in the area of Verbal Behaviour (VB) is extremely relevant in the field of autism and her continued presence within our community would be of great benefit to all families touched by this disability.

Mr Smith, Herts
Louise is very accurate in her analysis and catching every opportunity to motivate new learning - not only on the child's side but also for the "grown-ups" around. Our son's programming could not be in better hands.

Anonymous, Norfolk
Under Louise’s guidance Omi has made significant and remarkable progress, his eye contact has improved dramatically, his periods of social isolation has decreased and he has begun to enjoy the company of others.

Dr Jones, Berkshire
I have known Shelley Brown for 6 months through the work she has undertaken with my autistic son. She has made a significant contribution towards my son’s language acquisition and I have no hesitation in referring her to other families.

Mrs Christine Labios
Louise has provided us with hands on education and has visited our home many times to demonstrate with our son practical ways of interacting with him.

Dr ASM Ziaul Hoque
Louise first came to our home in December 2006 and within just four weeks we had seen remarkable progress in our 3 year old son.

Gareth & Sarah Squire
Verbal Behaviour Consultants

Down’s Syndrome

Down’s Syndrome is also known as Trisomy 21 and is a condition in which extra genetic material causes delays in the way a child develops both mentally and physically. It affects approximately one in 800 babies and incidences of the condition are known to be higher in children born to older mothers. The physical features and medical problems associated with Down’s Syndrome can vary widely in individuals and while the syndrome cannot be treated, it can be detected in early pregnancy and the health issues associated with the syndrome can be dealt with relatively successfully.

What causes Down’s Syndrome?

Down’s Syndrome is caused by an extra chromosome (chromosome 21) and it is this additional genetic material that causes the physical manifestations of the condition. The chances of producing a Down’s Syndrome child significantly increase in older mothers (over the age of 35). The condition is the subject of considerable research and although a preventative treatment is still unavailable, Down’s Syndrome children now have a significantly increased life expectancy, mainly due to the advances in the treatment of other physical conditions related to the syndrome. Almost half of all children born with Down’s Syndrome suffer from congenital heart defects and are at an increased risk of developing pulmonary hypertension. Approximately half of Down’s Syndrome children will suffer from problems with hearing and vision, but again, these can be assisted through medical intervention and treatment.

Speech, language and communication development

Children with Down’s Syndrome are usually very good communicators and are keen to interact socially right from infancy. It is this willingness to interact both verbally and non-verbally through the use of sign language that aids in the development of language and communication skills. Here at VBC we use sign language to facilitate the learning of vocal language. Our learners may have difficulty in learning the nuances of grammatical context within language and also may have problems actually forming words. Verbal Behaviour, particularly at an early age, can achieve remarkable results in Down’s Syndrome children, affording them the same level of communication development as their peers who do not have the condition. Since speech and language skills are essential to the development of mental abilities such as thinking, reasoning and remembering as well as social inclusion, it is essential that focus is placed on this aspect of treatment at a very early age to achieve maximum results. However, intervention at a later age can still produce incredible learning results.

Individuals with Down’s Syndrome have specific speech and language impairments including significantly delayed speech and language skills. Speech and language skills are central to social interaction, and Down’s Syndrome children have been shown to benefit from full inclusion within peer groups, encouraging language development at a significantly increased level. Being able to talk and express themselves clearly allows children to gain control over their social and emotional environments. It also underpins the development of mental abilities and it is in the understanding of the principles behind the use of language that assists Down’s Syndrome children to develop their full potential.

How Verbal Behaviour can help

At VBC, we understand the fundamental importance of language skills in the development of a child’s cognitive and social abilities. Rather than just focusing on the words themselves, we aid learners with Down’s Syndrome to understand context, meaning and the use of language to express themselves clearly and fully. This ability to communicate clearly can significantly reduce other problems that are commonly associated with the condition including depression, anxiety and a feeling of isolation and social exclusion. A complex range of knowledge and skills allow us the ability to communicate and fall under three principle headings – interactive communication skills, spoken language knowledge and speaking. By combining the three headings into one, cohesive strategy through Verbal Behaviour, VBC has seen many children with Down’s Syndrome develop at an astonishing rate, achieving comparable developmental patterns to children of normal abilities. We also offer that all-important network support for families of Down’s Syndrome children, enabling them to learn and develop their own strategies from the experiences of other families in a similar position.

For further details on how we can help you and your child to reach their full potential, contact us in confidence for more information.