What to do if you suspect a child is a Gestalt Language Processor

If you suspect or have identified a child as a gestalt language processor, you might be wondering how best to support their language development. Gestalt language processing is a natural way for many children to develop language, and understanding how to support this developmental style is key. Below are practical tips for parents and professionals to create a supportive and affirming environment for gestalt language processors. 

1. Acknowledge ALL communication

Gestalts, or scripts, are meaningful chunks of language that gestalt language processors use to communicate, even if their meaning isn’t immediately clear. Attempting to eliminate or extinguish these scripts can undermine their natural language development and the trust they place in you as a communication partner.

Key Takeaway: Always acknowledge a child’s scripts as valid communication. Whether or not you understand the meaning, respond by acknowleding—smile, nod, or repeat the gestalt back to them.

Example:

• Child: “Elmo’s fur is furry, alright!”
• Adult: Smiles and nods “Yeah, Elmo’s fur is furry, alright!”

This affirmation helps build rapport and ensures the child feels heard and supported.

2. Be a Detective

Understanding a child’s gestalts often requires some investigation. Gestalt language processors may use gestalts to convey a much larger meaning, feeling or memory rather than the literal meaning of the words. Observing contexts in which they use their gestalts and consulting with caregivers or those close to the child can help you decode their intent.

Example:

• Child: “Hot soup!”
• Adult: After observing doing the detective work and observing patterns, realizes the child uses this script when they’re hungry so adult models… “I’m hungry!”

By modeling a possible intended meaning of the gestalt after doing the detective work, you increase the chances that your models are meaningful and picked up by the child. 

3. Focus on connection over compliance

A child needs to feel safe and connected to us to pick up on our language modeling. If there isn’t trust and connection, partnership and attunement then we need to focus on this first. The Trott-Taylor Pyramid of Learning goes into more detail about this. The Pyramid of Learning was developed in 1991 by occupational therapist Kathleen Taylor and special educator Maryann Trott. It’s often referred to as the Taylor-Trott Pyramid of Learning. The visual is extremely helpful in showing how the nervous and sensory systems are foundational for a child’s learning and development.

When we aren’t regulated we can’t learn or access language. We need to consider these foundational systems and how we can support them proactively before we can expect a child to engage in our sessions and before we focus on modeling language.

4. Reduce Questioning

Asking questions is a common way to engage children, but it can be frustrating for gestalt language processors in the early stages of language development. Most cannot reliably answer questions until they begin self-generating language (Stages 3-4+). Instead of asking questions, narrate, comment, or simply pause to give them space to process.

Instead of:

• “What’s that running by?”

Try:

• “Look! It’s a cat!”

This approach provides a mitigable potential gestalt model for the child to potentially pick up and use in the future. 

5. Don’t take gestalts literally

Gestalts often aren’t literal. Instead, they reflect an emotional or memorable experience tied to when the child heard the phrase. To understand the meaning, consider the child’s context, body language, and exposure to media.

Questions to Explore the Script’s Meaning:

• What media do they frequently watch or listen to?
• Is there a specific time or situation when they use this script?
• Does the intonation match a familiar scene or phrase?

When in doubt, ask caregivers who know the child’s language history well.

6. Follow the Child’s Lead

The best way to model language for a gestalt language processor is during child-led play and natural opportunities. 

Example:
Before a session, a parent shares that their child loves movement activities and sensory play. You set up an obstacle course, a sensory swing, and a bin filled with beans. When the child chooses an activity, you follow their lead and model language naturally.

The child jumps into the swing.

• Adult: “Time to swing!”

This natural modeling offers meaningful language without pressure or expectation.

7. Find the right support with a local SLP/SLT

Parents should seek out a speech-language pathologist (SLP) who is well-versed in gestalt language processing and Natural Language Acquisition. They will be able to identify if your child is a gestalt language processor, help you identify where they may be in the stages and provide you with strategies to support your child through the stages of gestalt language development and get to original, flexible self-generated language. You can find a local speech-language pathologist through our NLA-Trained Clinician registry.

The Bottom Line

Supporting a gestalt language processor involves a shift in mindset: from teaching language to supporting it. By respecting and acknowledging their gestalts, following their lead, and modeling language during natural opportunities, you foster trust, confidence, and safety with you as a communication partner. 

Your role is not to teach them to talk but to be a partner on their journey toward language that is flexible, self-generated, and, most importantly, their own.

Want to learn more in-depth information about how to support gestalt language processors?

1. There are many free podcasts, webinars and articles to get you started. A comprehensive list of resources can also be found on our website. We just released a new FREE masterclass on echolalia and child-led therapy that is perfect for anyone starting their learning journey or on the fence about purchasing our courses! 
2. Consider taking the Meaningful Speech course to learn more about how your child or client processes language, how you can help support them from echolalia to self-generated (original flexible) language, child-led therapy, and neurodiversity-affirming practices. Looking for something shorter? We have a 1-hour introductory course perfect for extended family, daycare or school staff.
3. Consider taking our AAC + Gestalt Language Processing course. It will teach you how to identify, evaluate and support gestalt language processors who use AAC or who you think might benefit from AAC.
4. Look for a speech-language pathologist (SLP) who "gets it" and can help you in supporting your child's language development. Check out our registry for SLPs who understand gestalt language processing and child-led therapy.
5. Are you a school-based or private practice clinician looking for intake forms for new clients/students or creative visual reminder posters for your space? Check out the Meaningful Speech Marketplace. 
6. Want to learn more about starting a niche private practice? Watch our 1-hour webinar on starting a niche private practice hosted by Alex Zachos and Jess Teixeira from the Meaningful Speech team HERE.