Understanding Gestalt Language Processing: What the Evidence Says and Our Approach
In the world of speech and language pathology, there are many theories about how children learn to speak and understand language. One such theory is gestalt language processing. This theory suggests that kids learn language in big chunks, or "gestalts," rather than one word at a time. Essentially, children might first learn entire phrases before breaking them down into individual words over time.
At Elemenoe, we’ve noticed that some of our learners seemed to fit this theory perfectly. For example, some children’s first words were phrases from the ABCs or their favorite movie lines. These kids often struggled to learn language using conventional approaches and instead used these “scripts” to communicate. While we found the gestalt language processing theory intriguing, as professionals, we needed to look into the research behind it and see if it was backed by science.
You might come across claims that a large number of autistic children are "GLP learners." However, this claim is based on outdated information and isn't supported by strong evidence. Despite the theory gaining some popularity, especially among SLP bloggers and social media accounts, there's no solid evidence that gestalt language processing is a valid model of how children acquire language.
There are several challenges with this theory:
How do you determine if someone is a GLP learner or not?
When does a learner move from one stage to the next?
What counts as a proper phrase or "linguistic utterance" in each stage?
Even after 40 years of research, we still don’t have conclusive results showing that this approach is effective.
The Science of Language Development
Given the current lack of evidence supporting gestalt language processing, we rely on established, evidence-based practices that have been proven to help children develop language skills. At Elemenoe, our approach is grounded in the latest research and tailored to each child's unique needs. Here’s how we ensure the highest quality of care:
Individualized Assessment: We conduct thorough assessments to understand each child’s strengths and areas where they need support.
Collaborative Goal Setting: We work with families to set meaningful and achievable goals.
Multimodal Interventions: We use a variety of strategies and tools to support language development, including play-based therapy, social skills training, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) when appropriate.
Ongoing Monitoring and Adjustment: We regularly evaluate progress and adjust our interventions to ensure continued growth and success.
While gestalt language processing is an interesting theory, the lack of solid evidence means we need to be cautious about adopting it. By focusing on proven, evidence-based practices, we can effectively support our clients' language development and help them reach their fullest potential.
For more information on our services and approach, please feel free to contact us. We are committed to providing exceptional care and empowering our clients through effective, research-backed interventions.
