Specialist Services

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) are a range of strategies and tools that help individuals who struggle to use verbal speech successfully communicate with others.

Did you know that many of us use forms of AAC within our communication?

Have you ever:

  • Give somebody a thumbs up?

  • Used an emoji when sending a text?

  • Pointed to a picture on a menu in a foreign country?

Emma is experienced in using a wide range of different AAC tools and can assist you in determining the most appropriate system for your child by taking into consideration their current strengths and abilities in order to identify suitable access methods and language systems.

Core Speech can also provide ongoing training and therapy sessions to help your child implement use of their AAC to their fullest potential and ensure they Learn, Grow and Thrive.

Core Speech can provide AAC support in the following areas:

Unaided systems such as use of Key Word Signing (e.g., Makaton).

Low tech (e.g., paper based) communication books and symbols including Pragmatic Organisation Dynamic Display (PODD).

High tech dedicated devices with communication applications (e.g., Proloquo2go, LAMP, Touch Chat).

Access to play, communication, and environmental controls through developing switch button use.

8 Signs your child may benefit from access to AAC

1. Verbal speech is developing but not yet effective in meeting all communication needs.

2. Speech is highly unintelligible and difficult to understand.

3. Verbal speech has not developed.

4. Verbal speech is unreliable due to fluctuations in health, fatigue and emotional regulation.

5. Discrepancies in verbal speech across environments and communication partners.

6. The individual requires use of specific body movements to communicate (e.g., eye gaze) due to physical limitations.

7. The child can only communicate for a small range of communication functions.

8. The individual’s play opportunities are restricted due to physical limitations.

All of the above signs indicate that a child may benefit from use of AAC to support their functional communication skills and participation.

For more information regarding how Core Speech can support your child, please contact us.