Some therapy techniques provide cues to the child about how to produce the speech sounds. Once the child starts learning to read , some approaches use the assistance of the printed word to help the child know what sounds to use. One approach with older children uses reading at very slow speeds, gradually building up speed after the child can produce all sounds in words at slow speed. For children with severe dyspraxia, communication by signing may be recommended. This can be a temporary measure to allow the child whose speech is totally unintelligible to communicate with other people and so decrease frustration and it can assist normal language skills to develop.
Signing can also incorporate cues to show the child how to produce particular sounds.
With any supplementary or alternative means of communication it is important to use whole language not just the names of things. Whatever the system you choose your children will usually pick it up quite quickly. Sometimes parents can be quite resistant as they think their child will not learn to talk and its like giving up - the need for the child to express himself gets lost in the process. Any system of communication can be better than no communication while the child acquires verbal communication skills.