augmentative and alternative communication
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What is augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)?
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is a form of communication used to supplement or replace speech. AAC includes both aided and unaided methods. Unaided methods include gestures, sign language, and body movements. Aided methods involve communication aids like alphabet boards and electronic devices. People unable to speak clearly use AAC to exchange information, express needs, maintain relationships, and participate in their communities. Individuals often use multiple AAC methods, adapting their approach based on the situation and communication partners.
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Who might need to use AAC?
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is for individuals who cannot speak or can't speak clearly. People who rely on AAC use various methods to exchange information, express needs, maintain relationships, and participate in their communities.
AAC methods are either aided or unaided. Unaided methods include gestures, body movements, and sign language. Aided methods include electronic devices, writing tools, and symbol boards. People may use eye-pointing or touch symbols to communicate. If pointing is not possible, a communication partner can assist. Electronic aids include dedicated communication devices, computer-based systems, and AAC software, selected based on individual needs and capabilities.
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What are some examples of AAC tools or methods?
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) tools and methods replace or supplement speech for those unable to speak or speak clearly. AAC includes both aided and unaided methods.
Unaided methods rely on the body, such as gestures, sign language, and facial expressions. Aided methods involve tools or equipment. Nonelectronic aids include alphabet boards, books with letters or pictures, and writing tools. Electronic aids include dedicated communication devices, computer-based systems, and AAC software that uses synthesized speech. People may use multiple AAC methods and may use different methods with different people.
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How do people use symbols or pictures to communicate with AAC?
People use symbols and pictures in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) as a substitute or supplement to speech, using aided or unaided methods.
Unaided methods include gestures, body movements, and sign language. Aided methods involve communication tools, such as boards and books with letters, words, pictures or symbols. For example, Boardmaker is a graphics database that contains thousands of picture communication symbols translated into many languages. People can communicate by touching symbols or, if they cannot point, a communication partner can point to symbols for them.
Symbols are intricately woven into an individual’s perceptions of the world and transmit ideas that are difficult to articulate in common language.
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What is the difference between low-tech and high-tech AAC devices?
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) encompasses methods that supplement or replace speech, including communication aids like alphabet boards and electronic devices. AAC methods are typically differentiated as aided or unaided. Aided communication methods include use of electronic and nonelectronic communication aids.
High-tech AAC devices are technologically complex, utilizing sophisticated materials and precise operations, like speech-output communication devices. Low-tech AAC devices are simple, inexpensive, and readily available, such as writing tools, boards, and books with letters or pictures.
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How does AAC help people participate more fully in daily life?
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) helps people who cannot speak or speak clearly to participate more fully in daily life by enabling them to exchange information. People who rely on AAC can express their needs, maintain relationships, and engage in their communities through various methods, including communication aids, such as alphabet boards and electronic devices, as well as unaided methods like sign language and gestures. With AAC, people can use multiple methods and adapt their communication to different situations and people, enhancing their ability to connect and interact with the world around them.
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augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), form of communication used in place of or in addition to speech. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) includes the use of communication aids, such as alphabet boards and electronic communication devices that speak, as well as unaided communication methods, such as sign language and gestures. People who are unable to speak, or to speak clearly, rely on AAC to exchange information, express needs, maintain relationships, and participate in the activities of their community. People typically use multiple AAC methods and may use different methods with different people. For example, a children with dysarthria (a motor speech disorder) may be understood by their parents, but for classroom participation and phone conversations they may need to augment their communication with an electronic communication device.
AAC methods are typically differentiated as aided or unaided. Unaided communication methods include vocalizations and speech attempts as well as gestures and body movements. Many unaided communication methods are used and understood by most people, such as facial expressions, looking (eye gaze), pointing, and other common gestures. Other methods, such as individualized signals, may be understood only by familiar people. For example, a child may raise an arm to talk about someone who is tall and look toward a kitchen to talk about food, hunger, or the person who cooks. In addition, people with limited ability to move may use subtle finger movements or eye blinks as codes for answering “yes” or “no” to questions.
Sign language is also considered an unaided communication method. There are many different sign languages, specific to different cultures, such as American Sign Language and British Sign Language. Elements of sign language may be used by people who are unable to physically produce all the hand shapes and coordinated two-handed movements typical of sign languages. Individuals with limited speech and multiple impairments may be taught to use individual signs or adapted signs from a sign language. For example, a child with cerebral palsy may learn to use sign positions to quickly communicate needs or wants, such as touching a fist to the forehead to indicate “father” and touching the mouth to indicate “eat.”
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Aided communication methods include use of electronic and nonelectronic communication aids. Nonelectronic aids include writing tools, as well as boards and books with letters, words, pictures, or other symbols. There are many types of communication symbols. Blissymbolics, for example, is a language composed of thousands of graphic symbols. Boardmaker, a graphics database for making communication aids, contains several thousand picture communication symbols translated into numerous languages. People may communicate by eye-pointing or by directly touching symbols with their fingers or other body parts. If someone cannot point, a communication partner may point to symbols until the person indicates which symbols are wanted.
The category of electronic communication aids includes hundreds of dedicated communication devices, as well as computer-based communication systems and AAC software. The selection of devices is based on individual needs and capabilities of the people in their environment. For example, people who can spell typically choose devices that have synthesized speech to speak messages that are typed. Most devices allow people to sequence words or symbols to create messages or recall pre-stored phrases. People who cannot operate devices by touching symbols or letters may use alternate access methods, such as scanning, a joystick, and mouse emulation.