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Christina Hunger

@hunger4words

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📖 NYT Bestseller
🐶 Founder of the Talking Dog Movement
NEW BOOK: Your Dog Can Talk
[email protected]
Buttons, Training & Books 👇🏼

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Talking dog buttons came from my passion for AAC (communication devices that give people with speech and language challenges a way to say words).If there’s one thing I wish everyone knew, it’s that communication devices exist, and they can completely change the lives of people with significant speech and language challenges.No matter someone’s age, cognitive abilities, or physical needs, there are AAC solutions that can help them say words, share their thoughts, and connect with others when verbal speech isn’t meeting all of their communication needs.And now because of this incredible field, talking dog buttons can help pet owners understand what their dog is thinking about and needing!#hunger4words #aac #slp #talkingdogbuttons #buttontraining #aic #AACawarenessmonth #dogtraining #founder #entrepreneur by @hunger4words

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8 months ago

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been asking Autistic adults to reflect on their experiences in ABA therapy and share what they wish the professionals working with them had understood.Their responses have been thoughtful, practical, heartbreaking, and insightful.I believe anyone who works with children—whether in ABA, speech therapy, occupational therapy, education, or any other helping profession can learn something from listening to these perspectives.I don’t share these reflections because I think every experience with ABA is the same. I share them because the voices of the people who experienced these therapies deserve to be part of the conversation.Sometimes the most important lessons come years later, when children grow up and are finally able to tell us what helped, what hurt, and what they wish we had known.Thank you to everyone who has trusted me with their stories and reflections 💜#hunger4words #aac #autism #slp by @hunger4words

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18 hours ago

I guess it’s been there all along 💜#hunger4words #slp #aac #aic #speechtherapy by @hunger4words

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2 days ago

At lunch time, my daughter kept shouting “daddy sit down” trying to call him over to the table. He wasn’t home so I kept saying variations of “daddy’s not home” “daddy’s not here now” “daddy went to the store.”After this happened about 10 times, Stella tried responding too. When my daughter said “daddy sit down” Stella went to her buttons and said “bye.” And Stella was right! That’s what she needed to understand. After I confirmed “Daddy bye” my daughter stopped asking him to come sit down. Thanks Stella for having better speech therapy skills than me today 😅#hunger4words #aic #talkingdog #dogandbaby by @hunger4words

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4 days ago

One of the greatest privileges of this platform has been connecting with people whose experiences I never would have heard otherwise.Over the past couple of weeks, several autistic adults have reached out to share what ABA therapy was like for them as children. Many of these young adults participated in ABA as recently as last year. Their words are extremely important because they come directly from lived experience. Therapists and parents often focus on measurable gains, but goals reached don’t always tell the full story.I believe anyone who works with autistic children or children with disabilities will find value in their reflections.Over the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing their stories because the voices of the people who experience a therapy should be part of any conversation about it.Many have chosen to remain anonymous, but please remember before commenting that these are real people sharing real experiences, emotions, and reflections.#hunger4words #autism #slp #aac by @hunger4words

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8 days ago

So many families are asking the same question:“My loved one is nonverbal. How can I get them help?”I’m honored that so many people are trusting me with these questions, and I hope this information helps make the path forward feel a little clearer.AAC stands for augmentative and alternative communication. It can include pictures, gestures, communication boards, devices, or any tool that helps someone communicate when speech is not enough.AAC is not giving up on speech. It’s giving someone access to communication while speech is developing, inconsistent, or not available.A speech-language pathologist can help find the right AAC supports and teach the family how to use them in everyday life.If you have more questions, please ask them in the comments! I truly hope we can get this information out to the people who need it most 💜#hunger4words #aac #slp #autism by @hunger4words

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9 days ago

The struggles of a type A dog living in a Type B household 😂This is what happens when we don’t pick up the toys immediately!#hunger4words #aic #talkingdog #talkingdogbuttons by @hunger4words

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13 days ago

Something you should know about me is that if something doesn’t exist that I feel should exist, I will usually hunker down and create it.I’ve been flooded with messages from parents asking for resources about therapies, evaluations, and support options for their children.So I created a free downloadable guide that covers: • different professionals and what they do • therapy approaches • questions families can ask providers • green flags and red flags • and moreIf you’re a parent navigating all of this, I hope it helps you feel more informed and empowered. And if you’re a doctor, therapist, educator, or related professional who refers families to services, feel free to download and share it with your families too.Comment GUIDE and I’ll send it to you!#hunger4words #slp #earlyintervention #autism by @hunger4words

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14 days ago

I’ve been holding onto this story for 8 years, and in light of the @nytimes article that came out yesterday, it’s finally time to share it. Yes, I know not all ABA therapy looks like what I described. Yes, I completely understand there are good professionals and bad professionals in every field. But the way the system works right now it’s far too easy for things to spiral out of control, especially with such a vulnerable population and families who desperately need help and support. I hope by sharing this that parents are inspired to observe all of their children’s therapies (not just ABA), ask questions, do research, and trust your gut if something isn’t sitting right with you. #hunger4words #aac #slp #autism by @hunger4words

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17 days ago

When I was putting my daughter down for her nap today, she kept saying the same things over and over again and asking for things that she couldn’t have because it was nap time. And it made me think about how often AAC users are expected to communicate “correctly” in ways verbal children never are.Repetition is normal!Toddlers repeat themselves, kids repeat themselves, adults even repeat themselves sometimes. But we don’t take away a verbal child’s access to communication because they’re repeating themselves or the timing isn’t right. I think AAC devices can sometimes give communication partners a false sense of control over someone else’s communication.Because unlike a verbal child’s voice, a device can technically be moved, hidden, turned off, or taken away.But AAC devices are voices, not something that should only be available when communication is convenient.#hunger4words #slp #aac by @hunger4words

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19 days ago

Learning styles can change over time too! Stella started as an observer then became more of an explorer. Now she paws everything to see if it’s another button!Is your learner an explorer or an observer? #hunger4words #aic #talkingdog #dogtraining by @hunger4words

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21 days ago

Why does it matter when a dog makes a phrase for something she could already communicate with body language or vocalizations?Because kids do the same thing!A baby who wants to be picked up might stand at their mom’s feet, lift their arms, and cry. The message is clear: they want to be held.But as their language develops and they get a little bit older, they may stand there and say, “mama hold me.”The meaning is the same, but the way they communicate it shows cognitive and language growth.As a speech-language pathologist, that’s how I see Stella saying these simple phrases like “want come outside.”She could stand by the door and whine, and I would understand what she wanted and let her out. But instead, she chose to use her buttons to make a multi-word phrase. It’s important to see how dogs choose to use words when they have the opportunity to learn because it gives us so much information about their cognitive skills!#hunger4words #aic #slp #talkingdog #dogvideos by @hunger4words

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23 days ago