Frequently Asked Questions
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AAC stands for “Augmentative and Alternative Communication.” It includes anything we do - other than speech - to supplement spoken language. It can include simple, low-tech solutions like sign language, drawing to communicate, or pointing to pictures in a menu to order food. It can also include higher-tech modes of communication like text-to-speech, buttons that speak when pressed, and communication apps that contain thousands of symbols.
AAC can be a short-term solution or a long-term support depending on what the individual needs.
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Definitely not!
Research consistently shows the opposite: that having access to AAC makes children more likely to speak and does not interfere with language development. Below are several research articles that address this question.
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It depends.
Some people do well with a $25 text-based system on their phone. Others end up needing a dedicated device that mounts to their wheelchair and can be controlled using eye movements. These can cost upwards of $8,000 and are generally paid for by insurance. For most families, there are several different options that make sense.
Most insurance companies will cover all or part of the cost of AAC if it’s recommended by an SLP and prescribed by your doctor. If you don’t have insurance or if your insurance does not cover AAC, we can explore alternative funding options together, such as local and national charities, relying on school resources, and community fundraising.
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These is no one “best” app, but some systems I’ve recommended include:
CoughDrop
TouchChat
LAMP
TD Snap
Grid
Avaz
Proloquo2Go
Speech Assistant
Proloquo4Text
No matter what system you choose it’s important to look for the following features:
Lots of built in vocabulary - at least 1000 words from many different categories (objects, people, places, actions, feelings, etc.).
Organization - it should be easy to find the words you’re looking for.
Words that don’t move - words should stay put as much as possible so that finding them can become automatic.
A way to combine words into sentences
A way to spell
The ability to add grammatical structures
A way to add new words
If you have questions about a specific app, please feel free to contact me.
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There are no prerequisites for AAC. Insurance companies will not pay for a speech-generating device unless your child demonstrates certain skills, but sometimes the best way to learn those skills is by using AAC.
I follow an “Access First” approach. This means that I do my best to provide AAC access long before children “prove” they can use it. Nobody wakes up one day knowing how to drive a car - someone has to teach them! AAC is no different.
Learn More About AAC
Augmentative and Alternative Communication
AssistiveWare’s articles are clear, easy to read, and answer questions that almost all parents ask when first learning about AAC.
The Northwest Augmentative Communication Society is a nonprofit organization that helps families connect with one another, learn more about AAC, and get access to the services and communication tools their children need.
AAC In the Cloud is a free, fully-online, yearly conference that covers a wide range of AAC topics. Many of the presenters are AAC users and are able to provide a more complex, nuanced perspective on AAC than parents or therapists.
Ask Me, I’m an AAC User! (24 hour rule!) is a Facebook group run entirely by AAC users. As the group’s title indicates, there is a STRICT 24-hour rule: only AAC users can respond to posts within the first 24 hours. This gives AAC users enough time to respond and is an effective way to center their voices. If you want to learn a lot about AAC quickly, listen to these experts!