What are AAC Devices?
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices are tools to allow people with severe or significant speech impairments to express themselves. They are used as a tool to allow people to say precisely what they want and as quickly as they can to be a valuable communicator to express their feelings, thoughts, ideas and get their needs met. These devices can range from low tech picture cards to high end speech generating devices.
Low tech devices can be made from picture cards, product packaging and even family photos. There are several software programs that can be used to help create low cost communication books and picture exchange cards (PECS), one popular one is BoardMaker. Sign language is also considered a low tech device and can be an easy way to begin laying a foundation for communication.
High tech devices are most commonly seen as dynamically displayed electronic board with interactive buttons that are icon or text to speech devices. These devices are very costly and can take a lot of time for the user to become fluent in using it. They also tend to be heavy and not very portable. With advances in technology, the high tech aac world has seen many changes in the past few years. Many of the larger heavier devices are being replaced by applications the run on mainstream devices.
Regardless of low or high tech, the most important objectives of an AAC Device is :
• can the person say precisely what they want
• can they say it quickly
People that use AAC devices have more successful communication when trained properly and their communication partners have adequate training to help facilitate meaningful communication.
Who needs an AAC Device?
Many people can benefit from AAC devices; most users have a severe speech impairment that makes it difficult to express themselves clearly to others. Specific groups of AAC users could be persons with cerebral palsy, intellectual impairments, autism, dyspraxia, aphasia. Also, people that have suffered from strokes, traumatic brain injuries, and other neurological disorders that have affected their speech.
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