Augmentative and Alternative

Communication

Communication is…..

Multi-modal, that is:

Speech/Vocalisation

Writing

Gesture

Facial Expression

Signing

Synthesised Speech

Body Language

4 main purposes are fulfilled in communicative interactions

Communication of needs and wants

Information transfer

Social closeness

Social etiquette

Augmentative and Alternative Communication

“a set of procedures and processes by which an individual's communication skills (i.e. production as well as comprehension) can be maximised for functional and effective communication”.

American Speech and Hearing Association

AAC

It involves supplementing or replacing natural speech and/or writing with

aided (e.g. picture communication symbols, line drawings, Blissymbols, and tangible objects)

and/or unaided symbols (e.g. manual signs, gestures, and finger spelling)....

Regardless of the mode(s) selected, AAC involves the utilization of symbols e.g.

single meaning pictures, alphabet-based methods, and semantic compaction

to represent individual‘s communication intents

Symbols can be classified as:

aided or unaided acoustic/graphic/manual/tactile static/dynamic iconicity/opaqueness

The ultimate goal of introducing an AAC system

is….

- not to find a technology solution to the communication difficulty, but to enable the individual to efficiently and effectively engage in a variety of interactions.

Who uses AAC?

Adults and children, whose speech alone is not adequate to support communication with all partners in all environments with all types of messages.

From birth i.e. Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Apraxia of speech, learning disabilities etc.

Acquired i.e. Traumatic Brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury

Progressive i.e. M.S., Parkinson’s etc.

A person’s use of an AAC system

Should be evaluated in tandem with other assistive technology requirements

Should utilise the optimal method of access if one is already identified

Should ‘fit’ with expectations of communication

Should always facilitate communication

Communicative competence Light (1995) identified 4 key components

which impact on individuals who are working towards being competent communicators:

Linguistic competence Operational competence Social competence Strategic competence

Linguistic Competence

Provision of appropriate and sufficient information

Unambiguous communication

Efficient communication

Operational competence

Technical operation of the AAC device

Physical access and control

Ease of operation

Social Competence

Access to a range of partners

Access to a range of contexts

Strategic competence“Managing” conversations:

taking and yielding turns

Repair of misunderstandings

Selection of appropriate modes

Undertaking a range of communicative functions: requesting, responding, commanding

Communication is….

All of the aforementioned

But also depends on: Partner support Facilitation of the AAC user is central to

developing successful communication skills

Classification of AAC Aided or unaided No tech/ low tech /high tech Symbols: pictures/text Language: levels/predictive text/ Minspeak Portability: hand held/ mounted Output: synthetic (computerised)/ recorded

speech/written Input: direct/indirect Flexibility: dedicated/open

Light Tech Communication Devices

See also Clare Latham: Developing and Using a communication Book. http://www.ace-centre.org.uk/index.cfm?pageid=F93E8841-3048-7290-FEFCA53EBB74035C

Single message devices

BigMack AMDI Partner Plus Big button Chipper Express one Go Talk Button Go Talk Card Go Talk one Talking Time postcards

Single message devices No Touch talker Little Mack Personal Talker Talking buttons Talking Labels Talking tins Voice pods VoiSec Talking Pockets

Sequential Communicators Step-by-steps

Big Step Little Step

Randomizer Sequencer Smooth Talker Sound shuffle Story Sequencer

2-4 Location Devices

4Talk4 Fl4sh GoTalk 4 iTalk2 One by four Partner plus/Four TalkTrac

Interchangeable Overlay Devices

AMDi Smart 8/32/128 AMDi Tech/Scan

Go Talk 4/9/20 Go Talk Pocket Go Talk Express 32

ProxTalker

Interchangeable Overlay Devices

SuperTalker

Talara 32

Tobii 32

Quicktalker

Dynamic Display Devices with Recorded Speech

SpringBoard (Liberator)

M3 (Dynavox)

Synthesised Speech Dynamic Display Devices

V, VMax (Dynavox)

Maestro (Dynavox)

Express (Dynavox)

Tango (Dynavox)

V Pen (Ability World)

Tellus 4 (Techcess)

Mobi 2 (Techcess)

Smart II (Techcess)

Synthesised Speech Dynamic Display Devices

ECO2 (Liberator)

Vantage Lite (liberator)

Vanguard (Liberator)

Chat PC

Synthesised Speech Dynamic Display Devices

PowerBox7 (SmartBox)

Tobii C8 (SmartBox)

Motion Tablet (SmartBox)

Papoo (SmartBox)

Synthesised Speech Dynamic Display Devices

Text Based Solutions

TouchSpeak (Richard Hill)

Dynawrite (Dynavox)

LightWriter (Toby Churchill)

Alora (Techcess)