Maintain communication with children with happy doll syndrome with AAFC

In 1965, Harry Angelman for the first time described a happy doll syndrome as a genetic disorder that made a person behave like a "doll". Clinically, this syndrome is in the form of severe developmental delays, including slurred speech, abnormal gait, impaired body coordination, and a happy, happy disposition. But now, the term happy doll syndrome is no longer used, and this condition is better known as Angelman syndrome (Angelman syndrome), according to the name of the inventor.

Communication problems are the most difficult problems faced by people with Angelman syndrome and their families. Children with Angelman syndrome often cannot communicate verbally, and this condition will definitely affect their quality of life.

Without other effective communication tools, people with Angleman Syndrome are increasingly isolated from the outside world. But fortunately, most children can still communicate using expressions, instructions or symbols. This method is known as augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Get to know AAC, how to communicate with people with Angelman syndrome (happy doll syndrome)

Augmented and Alternative Communication (AAC) is a procedure designed to improve the communication skills of people who have little or no speaking and / or writing skills. AAC can use assistive devices, such as drawing symbols or sound output devices. or do not use assistive devices such as hand signals, movements, spelling with fingers, or eye contact. CAA is expected to improve the quality of life of children with Angelman syndrome.

If the ability to talk to normal people usually starts with the ability to say 1 or 2 syllables, such as "ba" or "ma", in children with Angelman syndrome, the ability to communicate starts with eye contact, facial expressions and body posture. It is very important for parents or guardians to identify their "language". This is so that the movements that were originally made unconsciously can be used as a communication tool.

illustrates this: Babies with normal growth and development can start blabbering words like "mother" or "father". At first, babies don't realize that getting words out of the mouth is a way of communicating. Then these words get an answer from the mother, who is certainly very happy to hear about her child, for example with a gesture to pat her chest saying, "Wow, my child. That's mother!" If this attention is given several times, the child will learn that the mother is his mother and will learn to tell mom to call mom.

Children with Angelman Syndrome can communicate using image symbols, object symbols, and hand signals. The goal is to express a request, to refuse to want something or interact socially, for example to attract attention and show your feelings.

A study of 300 people with Angelman syndrome (a large number of samples considering that it is a rare genetic disorder) shows several ways in which children with Angelman syndrome can communicate:

Most can not use verbal language. Only 18% use verbal language and 3% use written language.
More than half use eye contact, for example, to see the object or person in question. Another way is to point.
Most can use pictures or symbols to communicate.

With advances in technology, it is possible to optimize the communication capacity with children with Angelman syndrome, for example by using a special application on a tablet. Or even more sophisticated using a machine with audio output

Improving the quality of life of children with severe syndromes is not easy. One way for parents to work is to guide children so they can communicate effectively using other methods according to their abilities.