Podcast guest outlines naturalistic strategies to support gestalt language carryover in schools and homes

Katie Arnold, a speech-language pathologist who said she has worked in pediatrics for nearly two decades, told hosts of the Innovative AAC Solutions podcast that supporting gestalt language processors is best done through natural, child-led interactions rather than highly scripted drills. Arnold described gestalt language development as a process in which learners initially acquire ‘‘whole chunks’’ of language rather than single words, then gradually break those chunks into more flexible, single-word uses and grammar. "Their first stage isn't a single word. It is an intonationally defined unit of meaning or a whole chunk," she said.

Arnold recommended making data collection and goals transparent to students, using simple paper charts or digital tracking so children can see progress during…