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What is AAC?

Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Collage of four images representing different types of AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication). Top left: tablet displaying a grid-based AAC app. Top right: hands signing 'help' in American Sign Language. Bottom left: man using a thumbs-up gesture. Bottom right: hand pointing to a symbol on a paper-based AAC communication board.

AAC stands for "augmentative and alternative communication".  The American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) describes AAC simply as “all the ways that someone communicates besides talking” www.asha.org. If someone has a communication disorder that impacts their ability to speak, they may use technology to produce the messages that they want to communicate.  AAC also includes other ways we communicate such as using sign language, gestures, facial expressions, or pointing to pictures.

We all use

AAC

Even people who don’t have a communication disorder use forms of AAC such as facial expression, gestures, and body language to help get messages across.  In these cases, we are augmenting our verbal communication by using a gesture to better communicate our message.  Feel free to caption these pictures of an unofficial Communication Horizons team member with how her facial expressions are augmenting her message.

two images of the same girl in winter and summer

There are high-tech, low-tech, and no-tech ways to communicate

"No-tech" or "low-tech" AAC methods include sign language, pointing to or exchanging pictures of words we want to communicate, writing out a message, or pressing a button that has a prerecorded message.

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​"High-tech" AAC includes applications and software on an iPad or other durable tablet that offer hundreds or thousands of pre-stored words, and can be fully customized to allow for someone to communicate anything.

Photo collage of four no-tech AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) tools. Top left: PODD communication book with symbols for selecting messages. Top right: alphabet-based paper AAC board used for spelling words by pointing to letters. Bottom left: hand showing the American Sign Language sign for 'I love you'. Bottom right: paper-based picture communication board with symbols for individuals to point to and express words or needs.
Photo collage of four low-tech AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) tools. Top left: two simple voice output buttons for playing recorded messages. Top right: battery-operated AAC device with four color-coded buttons, each linked to a picture and spoken message. Bottom left: LCD writing tablet displaying the word 'hello!'. Bottom right: GoTalk device with 32 message buttons arranged in a grid.
Photo collage of four high-tech AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) tools. Top left: three rugged tablet-based AAC devices in protective cases with handles, displaying picture grid communication systems. Top right: two iPads running different AAC applications. Bottom: four eye-tracking AAC devices from various manufacturers, each showing unique communication grid layouts.

No physical disability is too complex for AAC.

There are many different ways that a person can access a high-tech communication device.  We are committed to finding a way to help our clients access technology for both communication and controlling essential things in their environment.  Using a finger to touch a screen is FAR from the only way to control an AAC device.

 

When fine and gross motor challenges impact one’s ability to reach out and touch a screen, a high-tech AAC device can be accessed / controlled in a number of ways, including:

  • Using a hand with assistance from a keyguard

  • Eye tracking camera

  • Head tracking / head mouse

  • Switches

  • Joystick

 

Our team of SLP and PT work together to find the most optimal way to access an AAC device.

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