Gestalt Language Processing – Half Day Session

Overview

There are two main theories regarding how children acquire language: analytic language development and gestalt language development.

Across social media and within health and education, the debate around whether children with Autism are gestalt language processors, and how this changes our support, remains ongoing. Although it may appear to be a relatively new topic, the concept is not new.

In this interactive session, we explore the available research to help learners feel more confident in developing support for children who may present with scripts, delayed echolalia, and/or gestalts.

Outcomes

• Understand the difference between analytic language development and gestalt language development, and how this applies to both neurotypical and neurodiverse children.
• Feel confident about what is meant by gestalt language processing.
• Develop an understanding of how ‘gestalts’ and/or echolalia can form part of communication development, and how best to support this.