Alternative or Augmentative Communication (ACC)

What is AAC?

AAC stands for Alternative or Augmentative Communication – this mean non-speaking options that can supplement, support or replace speaking options. For some children, the ‘augmentative’ communication options may be simple visual tools or systems that allow for greater processing supports, such as key word signs, or visual cards. For Children who are non-speaking, or have non-speaking periods, high-tech, robust AAC options, often an iPad with an application, is the most common form of AAC.

What are indicators that my child might benefit from AAC?

If a child;

is partially, or always non-speaking, it is highly likely that they will benefit from AAC.
has reached their toddler years without exhibiting much language use.
has slowed processing, and may benefit from visuals to support them in language comprehension.

AAC Myths – debunked!

Tips for supporting AAC users

Set up:

Set up the AAC device with as many icons per page as the childs visual perception can manage – although icons may be smaller, the fewer ‘clicks’ through to different pages to find the desired word, the easier the communication will be.
Once set up – avoid changing the order in which the icons appear on the screen, and keep key words in the same place across pages. – imagine if every week, someone changed the order in which the letters appeared on your keyboard! It would definitely slow you down, and you might even give up. – if you have vocabulary or scripts you suspect you might like to continually add to, in your initial set up, have a folder dedicated to this, or make activity pages relevant to specific times of day (with core words in the same spot)
Consider the childs motor and coordination abilities when getting up a device. It may be useful to have screen which do not scroll, or a longer hold time to select buttons.

Use:

Model lots, and without expectations – keep in mind that speaking children have years of listening to people around them communicate verbally before they learn this skill themselves. We can’t expect a child have be shown AAC and immediately pick it up
When possible, model on a separate device, and have the child’s device just for them
Allow the child access to their device at all times.
Start with functional words on the home page when modelling, such as ‘go’ ‘more’ ‘finished’ – by starting with the home page, there are no folder navigation requirements

How can a speech pathologist help me with AAC?

For NDIS participants, a speech pathologist can help you to apply for NDIS to fund an AAC device and app through an Assistive Technology request

A speech pathologist can help you to set up your device to best suit the AAC user ‘s needs
A speech pathologist can teach you as the parent or caregiver how to sue and model AAC
A speech pathologist can help a child to learn to use AAC on their own
A speech pathologist can support other language features, along side AAC, such as understanding others, following instructions, and understanding questions