AAC Assessment

• AAC Assessment

  
  

  • 
    

    This topic builds on a referral and any screening tests to evaluate the needs of the young child who has complex communication needs. We are going to explore:

    • Who can AAC help and how does screening identify this?
    • The importance of the AAC assessment process
    • How each child needs a device that is bespoke for their needs
    • Thinking about today and tomorrow

  • Who benefits from AAC?

    There are two main groups of children who benefit from AAC, those with complex communication needs (CCN), and those with a specific language impairment (SLI),.

    AAC helps these children by providing an alternative to speech and language, or by augmenting existing speech and language. 

    Some children find it easier to use symbols as a way of communicating and may have undiagnosed reasons for not following typical speech and language developmental patterns, but still benefit from the use of AAC strategies. 
    

  • Mark as done

    Concerns about using other forms of communication

    One concern some families have is around a myth that “AAC will stop a person from learning to speak” and yet all the research refutes this fact.  AAC encourages communication when provided in the right format, settings and with fun in mind especially for young children.  A therapist from the United States describes the "3 AAC Myths Preventing Children with Autism from Making Progress." Transcript available  
  • Activity - Who Needs AAC?

    Who is eligible for AAC?

    In the 1970s and 80s it was widely believed in the AAC field that children should only be ‘eligible’ for AAC once they have achieved certain cognitive and language milestones. This is now generally discredited, with a view that emergent communicators will learn through opportunities to participate using accessible communication aids in motivating activities and supportive environments. 

  • The AAC Assessment

    Once a child has been identified as being suitable for AAC how do we know what solutions will best meet their needs? 

    The most formal approach is an AAC assessment which often involves a team of people and a long wait. Many families opt to take a shortcut by purchasing AAC apps online and installing them onto iPads or Android tablets. However, these may not take into account all the complex needs of some children and may not be always be successful. 

    Considering the future

    Another reason why a communication aid might not be successful is because during the assessment, the immediate needs of the child may been accounted for, but future-proofing the device was not. Making considerations for tomorrow’s needs - both in the child’s language development and increasing opportunities to use the device in new situations - is vital to ensure that it continues to support them as they develop.

  • Bespoke Communication Aids

    "Not all of these users require high technology AAC systems to communicate. But they do require a robust system that allows them to be effective communicators. The “…ultimate goal of an AAC intervention is not to find a technological solution to the communication problem, but to enable the individual to efficiently and effectively engage in a variety of interactions.” (Beukelman and Mirenda, 1998)" (AAC 101: Who Should Use AAC and Why?)

    The goal of the assessment process is to find or develop a communication solution that fits the needs of the child and their environment. The three main features of the devices that are determined by this process can be seen under the three tabs:

    • Representation
    • Organization
    • Access

    
    

    Are words and phrases represented by symbols, objects, or text? If symbols, which symbols?

    
    

    Do symbols represent individual words or phrases? How are they arranged to promote communication growth?

    
    

    How is the device accessed by the user? Do they use touch, eye-gaze or switches or something else?

    
    

  • Summary 

    • Every child with a significant speech difficulty should be considered for AAC 
    • Remember that one size does not fit all! 
    • Planning for tomorrow is as important as planning for today

    
    

  • Further Reading 

    • TobiiDynavox : Myth - Too Young to Use AAC (dowload PDF)
    • AssistiveWare:  Are there prerequisites for AAC?
    • Smith, A.L. and Hustad, K.C., 2015. AAC and early intervention for children with cerebral palsy: parent perceptions and child risk factors. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 31(4), pp.336-350.
  • Reflective Journal 

  • 

    Journal

    Reflective Journal - Assessing for AAC
  • Presentation slides

  • 

    URL

    Assessing for AAC Needs URL