aac solutions: low to high tech alicia dinda m.a., ccc-slp ann bedard m.s., ccc-slp...

AAC SOLUTIONS: LOW TO HIGH

TECH

Alicia Dinda M.A., CCC-SLP Ann Bedard M.S., CCC-SLP

adinda@eastconn.org abedard@eastconn.org

Overview

What is Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)?

The American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) defines AAC as “all forms of communication (other than oral speech) that are used to express thoughts, needs, wants, and ideas.”

These forms of communication can be used in conjunction with (augmentative) or in place of (alternative) oral speech.

Overview

What is Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)?

AAC can include anything from gestures to dynamic display speech generating devices.

“Ideally, an AAC system includes more than one mode of communication, with the child using whichever is the most efficient given the persons, setting and activity at hand. Very often one of the modes of communication in an AAC program is natural speech.” (University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s AAC Connecting Young Kids [YAACK] website)

Overview

Who?

Anyone who has difficulty communicating using verbal speech alone could benefit from the use of AAC.

AAC users are of all ages and have a variety of conditions including: autism, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, apraxia of speech, Traumatic Brain Injury, etc.

Some may use AAC for only a short time, and others may depend on it for a lifetime.

Overview

When?

Speech is not meeting communication needs

“A child whose speech is not developing within the realm of what is considered normal, or is not likely to develop normal speech due to a pre-existing condition, is a potential candidate for AAC. Even when it is unclear whether or not a child will eventually develop normal speech, and this is frequently the case, the child may still benefit from an AAC program.” (University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s AAC Connecting Young Kids [YAACK] website)

Overview

Where?

AAC can be used in any setting including school, home, and the community

The individual is encouraged to use their form of AAC across settings and environments. This will help to generalize the skills and use of the system.

Overview

Why? Speech is not meeting communication needs

Vocabulary is not spontaneous

Speech is scripted but lacks meaning

Difficulty initiating communication with others

Speech is not intelligible to familiar and/or unfamiliar listeners

Myths

AAC will stop language development This myth is false!!! Available research indicates that the use of AAC

does not decrease speech production, and in some cases increases speech production.

This is true for all children regardless of their disability.

Speech may continue to be a component of a multimodality communication program.

YAACK website: Does AAC Impede Natural Speech? http://aac.unl.edu/yaack/b2.html

Dynavox Implementation Toolkit: AAC Myths Revealed http://www.dynavoxtech.com/training/toolkit/details.aspx?id=399

Myths

It’s only for kids who don’t talk Individuals can benefit from the use of AAC in

addition to verbal communication when oral speech is not meeting their communication needs.

AAC can be a tool to support communication and language growth Provides visual information – improves vocabulary

and comprehension and capitalizes on visual-spatial learning skills

Aids in language retrieval (information taken from But…My Child Can Talk…Why a

device? By PRC’s Regional Consultants Margaret Prekins and Catherin Raio 9/1/06)

What is No-Tech?

Any communication system that does not require a power source.

Examples: signing and gestures, communication books, eye gaze boards, picture exchange systems

No-tech continued…

Communication book/board Display symbols/pictures for variety of

communication purposes (ex. Requesting, commenting, greeting, etc.)

Can be used to build language, bridge to technology, back up technology

Single sheet, multiple simultaneous, and multiple sequencial designs

No-tech continued…

Flip n’ Talk Combines use of communication book and board The book organizes core and situation-specific vocabulary in a

spiral-bound set of 30 vinyl communication strips Board displays core words and sentence starters Utilizes add-on software to use

Boardmaker to edit symbols displayed on the pages

No-tech continued…

Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) Developed by Pyramid Education

Consultants Begins with requesting and then moves

to picture discrimination, creating sentences, answering questions, and commenting

ABA based Training and consultation

exclusive to Pyramid Consultants

No-tech continued…

Eye gaze board a see-through frame with

letters or pictures on it

Modifying

All no-tech systems can be modified to meet the student’s needs. Things to consider when creating include:

Size of symbol

Number of symbols presented per page

Symbol vs. photo

Line drawing vs. color symbol

Resources

Boardmaker

Google Images

Quick Pics www.patrickecker.org/quickpics.htm

Speaking of Speech www.speakingofspeech.com

Pogo Boards www.pogoboards.com

Picture This software

What is Low/Mid-Tech?

Low Tech: Any communication system that requires a source of power and is very easy to program.

Mid Tech: Any communication system that requires a power source and requires some level of training to adequately program and maintain the device.

Switches

Button Switches Single message

BIGmack Chipper& LITTLEMack

Sequenced messages Big & Little Step-by- Sequencer

Step Communicator

Leveled Step-by-Step with Levels

Switches cont.

Variety of sizes/shapes Add pictures for variety of switches incl. toggle See communication comparison chart on

www.enablingdevices.com

Object level communication Compartment switches Talking My Way Communication System

iPad/iPod Touch switch apps TapSpeak TapSpeak Sequencer

Static Display Devices

Go Talk--------------

Quick Talker

AMDI Tech/Speak Series ---------------------

Boardmaker Activity Pad

Static Display Devices cont.

Progressive Super Talker 7-level

Communicators

iPad and Sounding Board iCommunicate

iPod Touch apps

ProxTalker

Moveable Picture Communication System

The website states: “The Logan ProxTalker is an assistive communication device that anyone who uses picture exchange to communicate can easily learn. The benefit is increased independence in communication because the ProxTalker actually talks.”

More low/mid tech options

Talking photo album

Communication book with voice added using Livescribe pen

Resources

Enabling Devices.com (http://enablingdevices.com/files/content/ComparisonChart.pdf)

Mayer-Johnson.com/us/assistive-technology

Ablenet Ablenetinc.com

What is High-Tech?

Any communication system that requires a power source and extensive training to competently program and maintain the device.

Examples: dynamic display devices, speech generating devices

Dynavox

Maestro V+Vmax+

Tango Xpress M3

Prenke Romich

Vantage Lite

SpringBoard Lite

ECO2

Saltillo

ALT-Chat

ChatPC-Silk

iPad/iPod Touch Applications Proloquo 2 go

“provides a full-featured communication solution for people who have difficulty speaking. It brings natural sounding text-to-speech voices, up-to-date symbols, powerful automatic conjugations, a default vocabulary of over 7000 items, full expandability and extreme ease of use to the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.”

iPad/iPod Touch Applications cont.

Touch Chat“Words, phrases and messages are spoken with a built-in voice synthesizer or by playing back a recorded message.

Includes: symbol based communication pages, core word sentence building, keyboard with word prediction

Word Power can be purchased for a higher level of core word vocabulary

Can edit on both computer and device when Windows editor is purchased

More dynamic screen options Computer software

Say it Sam------------

Speaking Dynamically Pro

The Grid 2 ---------------------------------

Proloquo

Pogo Boards-----

More dynamic screen options Nintendo DS

Tap to Talk“makes communication fun, like another “game” on this cool device. Just tap a picture and TapToTalk speaks. Each picture can lead to another screen of pictures. You’ll learn about TapToTalk Designer, the online subscription service that you use to create your own AAC albums for your child. TapToTalk Designer includes a library of over 2,000 pictures. You can add your own pictures, photos and sounds. You can even record your own voice.

Pros and Cons

Dedicated vs. Commercially available

Funding

Training

Tech-support

Durability

Access

Resources for Use and Implementation Dynavox grids for keeping track of use http://www.dynavoxtech.com/training/toolkit/pathsList.aspx

Caroline Musselwhite’s resources

AAC Language Lab.com (in the classroom)

AAC Intervention.com

AACandAutism.com

Closing Thoughts

Finding an appropriate AAC tool or device for a student is only the start.

AAC users do not become proficient without appropriate support, instruction, practice, and encouragement.

Just like a piano alone doesn’t make a pianist, nor does a basketball make an athlete. Likewise, an AAC device alone doesn’t make one a competent, proficient communicator. (Beukelman, 1991).

Discussion & Questions

Thank you for coming!