Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Users
What is augmentative and alternative communication?
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is often used by “people who some of the time or all of the time cannot rely on their speech.”[1]
AAC includes “all forms of communication (other than oral speech) used to express thoughts, needs, wants, and ideas.” You might not realize it, but you’ve used it before! If you’ve ever used facial expressions, gestures, symbols, pictures, or written words to express yourself, you’ve used AAC.[2]
AAC can be aided or unaided:
· Aided: Means of communication that requires additional external support.
o Paper and pencil
o Communication board with visual-graphic symbols (pictures, photographs, line drawings, symbols, printed words, traditional orthography)
o Sophisticated computer with symbols, words, letters, or icons
§ "Speaks" for user via either synthetically produced speech or recorded natural (digitized) speech.
o Aided forms of communication can be via direct selection and/or scanning.
§ Direct selection: typing or pointing with a hand, a head stick, or the user's eyes to indicate symbols from a set of choices.[3]
§ Scanning: items in a set are presented sequentially over time and the user makes a selection indirectly, typically via one or two switches.[4]
· Unaided: Means of communication that requires the use of hands and adequate fine-motor coordination skills. Communication partners need to be able to understand the signs.
o Gestures
o Facial expressions
o Manual signs or sign language
Three main ways language is conveyed in AAC:
· Single-meaning pictures: The least commonly used AAC system. Reading not required. User points to one symbol out of a large set of symbols to express their thoughts or wants. Some meaning to pictures must be taught since not all words are easily represented by images.
· Alphabet-based systems: Reading required. Symbol sequences are long, but some systems can reduce the number of letter selections by predicting words after the first several letters.
· Semantic compaction: The most commonly used AAC system. Reading not required. User points to one or two symbols per word out of a small set of symbols.[5]
How common is it?
Over 2 million people in the United States have a severe communication impairment that makes it difficult for them to express themselves via oral speech. Communication impairments may be short-term or long-term. They may be congenital, acquired, or degenerative (worsening throughout life), and are caused by a wide variety of causes, including but not limited to: cerebral palsy, autism, stroke, head or spinal cord injuries, cancer, ALS, muscular dystrophy, or Huntington’s Chorea.[6]
Tips for Mentors:
· AAC users are people first and foremost. Do not treat them as “special.”[7]
· Everyone communicates differently. AAC users may use or combine different methods and AAC devices during interactions.[8]
· If you’ve never interacted with an AAC user before, be honest. They’ll tell you what to do.[9]
· Never talk about an AAC user if they are present. Talk directly to them.[10]
· Just because someone has a speech impairment does not mean they are also deaf or hard-of-hearing. Speak normally unless the AAC user requests otherwise.[11]
· Allow extra time for AAC users to communicate.[12]
· Avoid “yes” or “no” questions. Try asking questions with the 5 W’s (Who, What, When, Where, Why).[13]
· You might feel compelled to finish an AAC user’s sentence, but they may consider this rude and you might only be hindering the flow of conversation.[14]
· If you have a hard time understanding an AAC user, don’t pretend to follow along. Be polite, but honest, and ask them to repeat.[15]
· Make sure you’ve understood the AAC user by rephrasing their sentence.[16]
· During a group conversation, invite input from the AAC user. Since communicating with AAC is slower than oral speech, it’s hard for users to interject into a conversation.[17]
· Introduce one topic of conversation at a time.[18]
· If you’re not sure whether an AAC user needs help, ask. Don’t provide assistance or touch an AAC device without the AAC user’s permission.[19]
· AAC devices may experience glitches. Be patient and understanding if these happen.[20]
· If an AAC user uses a wheelchair, it’s best to sit facing them during a conversation.[21]
Partners for Youth with Disabilities
617-556-4075
www.pyd.org
[1] http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/AAC/
[2] http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/AAC/
[3] http://www.asha.org/NJC/faqs-aac-basics.htm
[4] https://faculty.washington.edu/dowden/tcollab_aac_files/aac_module_scanning/aac_scanning_about_intro.htm
[5] http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/InfoAACUsers/
[6] http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/InfoAACUsers/
[7] http://atcoalition.org/article/etiquette-communicating-aac-users
[8]http://www.communicationmatters.org.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/focuson/Speaking_with_someone_who_uses_AAC_A4.pdf
[9]http://www.communicationmatters.org.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/focuson/Speaking_with_someone_who_uses_AAC_A4.pdf
[10] http://atcoalition.org/article/etiquette-communicating-aac-users
[11] http://atcoalition.org/article/etiquette-communicating-aac-users
[12] http://atcoalition.org/article/etiquette-communicating-aac-users
[13]http://www.communicationmatters.org.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/focuson/Speaking_with_someone_who_uses_AAC_A4.pdf
[14]http://www.communicationmatters.org.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/focuson/Speaking_with_someone_who_uses_AAC_A4.pdf
[15] http://atcoalition.org/article/etiquette-communicating-aac-users
[16]http://www.communicationmatters.org.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/focuson/Speaking_with_someone_who_uses_AAC_A4.pdf
[17]http://www.communicationmatters.org.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/focuson/Speaking_with_someone_who_uses_AAC_A4.pdf
[18]http://www.communicationmatters.org.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/focuson/Speaking_with_someone_who_uses_AAC_A4.pdfhttp://www.communicationmatters.org.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/focuson/Speaking_with_someone_who_uses_AAC_A4.pdf
[19] http://atcoalition.org/article/etiquette-communicating-aac-users
[20] http://atcoalition.org/article/etiquette-communicating-aac-users
[21] http://atcoalition.org/article/etiquette-communicating-aac-users