October is AAC Awareness Month, and we think it deserves a little spotlight. At Connect the Dots, our speech-language therapists work with families every day who have questions about augmentative and alternative communication for children; what it is, whether it’s right for their child, and what to expect. If you’ve been curious, this one’s for you.
What Is AAC?
AAC stands for augmentative and alternative communication. It’s an umbrella term for any tool or strategy that supports or replaces spoken language. This can include low-tech systems like picture boards, but research shows that high-tech speech generating devices provide access to the most robust vocabulary, and the best part? They grow with your child as they learn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it cost money? This is one of the most common questions we hear, and the answer is usually really good news. Before beginning the process of trialing a device, your child’s SLP will do a benefits check. In many cases, insurance covers most, if not all, of the cost.
What if they break it? It happens! Speech generating devices are durable, designated medical equipment, but kids are kids. That’s exactly why warranties exist, to make sure your child never loses access to their communication because of an accident.
Fact or Myth?
“My child will just depend on the device and lose motivation to talk.” — MYTH! Research has concluded that using an AAC device doesn’t get in the way of spoken language development. In fact, studies show that the majority of children who use AAC demonstrate an increase in spoken language as a result. 🙌
“My child is too young for AAC.” — MYTH! There are no prerequisites for AAC. Families work closely with their SLP to develop page sets that are accessible, user friendly, and individualized to each child and their learning profile. Positive outcomes have been seen in children as young as 12 months old.
“We should try picture communication before jumping to a high tech device.” — MYTH! Picture supports can be beneficial for all children, but exchanging pictures as a form of communication means your child has to rely on you to always have the right pictures available. This limits their vocabulary access and their independence. Picture systems can also be bulky and hard to carry around. With a high tech device, your child can explore vocabulary in a meaningful way, wherever they are.
“They would just play with it.” — BOTH! And that’s okay! Play is part of learning. Babies learn to talk by babbling, lots of sounds that don’t mean anything yet, but lead to real words over time. Learning a communication system works the same way. Phases of exploration and play are completely normal and expected, and they lead to meaningful communication. So yes, let them play with it.
If AAC has been on your mind, we’d love to talk. Our speech-language therapists are here to guide your family through every step of the process, from that first conversation to finding the right device for your child. We serve kids from birth to 18 in Eugene and Corvallis, Oregon. Ready to get started?
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