Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

What Is AAC?

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The use of multiple modalities to supplement or compensate for the spoken communication of an individual

  • Unaided: Nonspoken forms of communication using your body, including gestures and facial expressions that do not. Unaided is also no-tech

    Aided: Communication that uses external support, such as a communication board with symbols or a pen and paper. This can be low-tech, mid-tech, and high-tech.

    • No-Tech: Does not use any materials other than your body—unaided communication.

      • e.g., gestures or facial expressions

    • Low-Tech: Use physical tools but do not require batteries, electronics, or power—aided communication.

      • e.g., communication books or choice cards

    • Mid-Tech: Uses some technology, but with limited customizations and dynamic displays -aided communication.

      • e.g., single message button or step-by-step communicator

    • High-tech: Advanced electronic communication devices that can have dynamic screens and customizable, robust language systems - aided communication.

      • e.g., Communication apps

  • Communication devices that produce speech, either with a recorded or synthesized voice.

  • The way a communicator can use their devices

    • Direct touch - using a finger or stylus

    • Switch scanning - using a button to pick a message

    • Eye gaze - using their eyes to pick words

    • Head tracking - using their head to pick words

  • Anyone who has a limited speech production

    • Stroke

    • Traumatic Brain Injuries

    • ALS

    • Apraxia

    • Cerebral Palsy

    • Autism

    • Intellectual Disabilities

    • Developmental Disabilities

AAC Services

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Evaluation

An AAC evaluation is the first step in finding a communication system that truly works for an individual. At AugmentAbility Speech Therapy, our evaluations are personalized, collaborative, and focused on the communicator’s real-life needs—not just what looks good on paper. During the evaluation, we:

  • Learn about the communicator’s current communication skills—what’s working well, and what’s challenging

  • Explore their communication needs at home, school, work, and in the community

  • Look at access methods—how they can best use AAC (touch, switches, eye gaze, etc.)

  • Try a variety of low-, mid-, and high-tech AAC options

  • Involve family and team members to ensure the AAC will be supported everywhere

  • Collect data in real-life settings whenever possible

Trial

An AAC trial is a chance to test-drive different communication systems before choosing one to use long-term. During trials, we:

  • Explore a variety of AAC options (low-tech through high-tech speech-generating devices)

  • Match system features to the communicator’s needs, strengths, and preferences

  • Try different access methods (touch, switch, eye gaze, etc.)

  • Collect real-world data on ease of use, communication success, and motivation

  • Include family and support team input at every step

Therapy

Once we’ve identified a strong AAC match, we provide therapy focused on:

  • Building the user’s confidence and independence in communicating

  • Expanding vocabulary and sentence building

  • Supporting all forms of communication (speech, gestures, AAC)

  • Coaching families, educators, and support staff so AAC is available and supported everywhere

  • Teaching strategies for real-life communication—whether that’s telling a joke, asking for help, or sharing an opinion

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AAC Resources

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