If your child is struggling to speak, you may wonder what you can do to help ease frustration and promote more successful communication interactions. Many children develop creative ways to help others understand their attempts to communicate, such as pointing, using gestures, and acting things out to add clarity to their message. All of these forms of communication that lay outside of spoken words are part of a system called Augmentative and Alternative Communication or AAC.
AAC is augmentative when it helps a child increase the success in their communication by offering a way to supplement spoken words. AAC is an alternative when it helps a child communicate in the absence of spoken words, or when spoken words may be significantly limited. Some children use AAC to help them communicate for just a short time, while others may use it for a lifetime. But what exactly is AAC and how do you know if your child could benefit from these tools and strategies?
What is an AAC Device/ Communication Device?
AAC is anything a person uses to supplement or replace spoken words. We talked above about pointing, gestures, and acting things out as a few examples of AAC strategies. AAC also includes strategies like sign language and tools that offer pictures that a child can use to communicate wants, needs, and ideas. These picture forms of AAC can be printed into single pages or books, or displayed on technology like tablets and computers.
An AAC device/communication device is a part of the larger AAC strategy. When technology is used to display picture communication, there is often a voice that is produced to help others hear and understand the child’s communication without being close by. Children who use AAC often use different types together (e.g., pointing, gestures, and picture communication tools), which all make up the child’s “AAC system”.
How Does AAC Help Kids?
When a child is not speaking at all at an age when spoken words are expected, or when a child is speaking but is not able to say all of the things needed or wanted throughout their day, AAC tools and strategies can help improve communication success and reduce frustration (the child’s and the caregiver’s). AAC can help the child develop many different ways to communicate what they want, which can reduce their use of behavior for communication purposes that may be challenging for their caregivers to manage. For children who may not develop spoken language that is strong enough to meet their needs across their lives, AAC technology can offer a voice and a means of connecting with others and the world.
How Do I Know If My Child Needs AAC?
AAC should be considered alongside quality speech and language intervention if:
Your child is not using spoken words by 18 months of age.
Your child has a medical or developmental history that places them at risk for short-term or long-term communication challenges, such as Autism, genetic differences, cerebral palsy, or Down syndrome.
Your child is not able to say what they want to say or is not understood as expected at their age, resulting in frustration or overwhelm for your child or your family.
Your child’s communication differences are negatively impacting their ability to access other experiences afforded by children their age, such as school, play groups, or other community and social opportunities.
There are many forms of AAC and many unique factors involved in deciding which types of AAC may be best suited to support each individual child. Therefore, if you suspect that your child may need the support of AAC tools and strategies to be a successful communicator, you should reach out to your child’s pediatrician or speech-language pathologist (speech therapist) to discuss your concerns.
How do I learn more about AAC?
An evaluation is the first step to identifying the best AAC system for your child. This type of evaluation is usually conducted by a speech therapist with expertise in the area of AAC. The therapist evaluates your child’s current communication skills to determine if they warrant concern and if so, whether therapy services should include AAC. They can teach you about the tools and strategies available and help you make a choice that works for your family. This professional can also help you connect with the training your family needs to use AAC with the most success.
What If I Just Want My Child to Have a Device to Play with and Help Them Grow?
Whether you’re supporting your child's communication development or providing them with engaging and enriching activities to build other skills, quality technology can be a motivating and effective ally. Education tech can offer your child engaging ways to practice finger skills, to learn what new words mean, and to be independent in everyday activities as they play and have fun. Although it is best to work with a speech therapist before choosing an AAC device/communication device to try with your child, offering your child developmentally appropriate access to quality educational tech can open many doors and add to your understanding of your child’s skills and needs.
Want help navigating these tough questions around AAC? Reach out to us for a free consultation!
Originally published on the Goally blog