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‘scommunication 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. 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)