Why do some people use AAC?Disabilities leading to use of AAC may either be from birth or due to illness or injury later in life.

There are disabilities from birth that prevent people from using spoken language effectively, for example learning disabilities, or cerebral palsy (with or without learning disabilities).

NHS defines at least two terms for language difficulties. Having physical difficulty with speech after neurological damage is known as dysarthria. 'Dysarthria is difficulty speaking caused by brain damage or brain changes later in life.' - NHS 

'Aphasia is when a person has difficulty with their language or speech. It's usually caused by damage to the left side of the brain (for example, after a stroke).'  

People with dysarthria may not have lost any ability in understanding speech. They may still be able to read and write, for example, especially with the help of AAC.

Physical problems with speech may go hand in hand with problems writing, either by hand or typing. This means AAC is useful both for speaking and for writing.

People with aphasia may be helped by using non-verbal language, such as symbols and pictures. Some people with learning disabilities may also find it helpful to communicate with non-verbal language. AAC can present symbols to be selected and can read out the user's choices.

Some people may be able to speak but still use AAC for written communications of all natures. For example, people with spinal injury who cannot write or type, or people with degenerative neurological conditions.

Some consider actions as simple as pointing or waving to be examples of AAC.

Colin's quote on changed life was unfortunate as he disclosed that he had not been consistently attending a school due to his disrupted education. Despite this, Colin now volunteers for a role relating to the I.T aspect of a company.

According to the BBC, "over 300,000 people in the UK have speech disabilities that could benefit from Augmentative and Alternative Communication

Figure 1: AAC (eyegaze) in use

techniques". https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b09yryz1/click-old-macdonald-had-a-farm-aiaio[Broadcast 15th April 2018]

Types of AACThere are a multitude of types of AAC, each to suit the individual.

Users can make selections by using their eyes, or their hands, or even pressing a switch with any part of the body.

Selections can be made in a variety of different ways; one of which is appropriately named ‘Scan and Select’.

Scan and Select A clue as to what `Scan and Select’ is can be located within its title; ‘scan’ and ‘select’; Scan and Select is a selection method for AAC. It can be found unexclusively on the Eye-Gaze system and, therefore, can be controlled in a variety of methods. Some of the most frequent mediums are eye-control and switches.

AAC can be set up to speak or to produce writing or to display symbols.

Communicating with users of AACCommunication is a two-way process which involves a 'sender' and a 'receiver'. Therefore AAC users need the opportunity to both 'send' and 'receive'.

Using AAC is generally a lot slower than speaking and may be much slower than a non-disabled person's typing for example. Allow enough time for an AAC user to reply.

Generally people use both verbal and non-verbal communication to convey a message or show that they have received the message. People may use AAC to assist their verbal or non verbal communication or use AAC in place of verbal or non verbal communication. Do not start with assumptions that affect communication, e.g. expecting a smile or a handshake.

First assumptions are often incorrect. Be ready to change your opinion on someone's level of understanding. Do not assume they cannot understand you. Likewise an AAC user might be surprised that some people are able

to understand their 'unusual' form of communication and other people cannot.