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Augmentative Augmentative Communication (AAC) is used with individuals who are unable to communicate their needs, emotions, thoughts, ideas to their communication partner using verbal speech.
AAC assessment is conducted by a licensed Speech Language Pathologist who has specialized in AAC. The SLP conducts assessment of the individuals with communication needs and does trials of different Speech Generative Devices (SGD) and recommends the appropriate SGD based on the cognitive level, physical status and communication needs of the individuals.
AAC assessment is an ongoing process. The initial assessment consists of review of records(Psychological evaluation, Speech Language assessment report, Occupational Assessment report), observation of the individual in his natural environment, then assessing the individual's physical ability (vision, hearing, motor status) and then conducting trials for SGD devices which best suits the individual's needs. The testing time usually takes approximately 2-3 hours and over a period of multiple days .
Some of the different types of AAC used are:
Low tech Communication system(communication boards, PECS)
Mid tech communication System (Go Talk , Seven level communicator)
Hi tech Communication System(e.g. Apps on iPad (Touch Chat, Proloquo2go, Go Talk Now), Nova Chat, Tobii Dynaox)
The AAC Specialist puts on the hat of both the SLP and AAC Specialist. As an SLP, she trains the individual to use the SGD to communicate their needs, answer questions, express feelings and use the SGD to formulate meaningful and grammatically correct sentence. As an AAC Specialist, she trains the individual, family, staff and any other communication partners relevant in the individual's life, the location of the icons, programming the SGD and also how to communicate with the individuals utilizing the SGD.
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