What is the difference between Augmentative and Alternative Communication?
The term augmentative means to supplement or enhance. Individuals who use augmentative communication are adding a gesture, picture symbol, or other mode of expression to their natural speech. For example, individuals who have difficulty articulating due to neurological and muscle impairments may have speech that is slow, weak, uncoordinated, or unintelligible. People who are already familiar with these individuals may be able to understand their speech; however, people who are not familiar with these individuals might benefit if an additional mode of communication were used. The term alternative means substitute or different. An alternative communication system can include multiple modes of expressing information. If an individual is unable to use natural speech functionally, he or she might exclusively use gestures, pictures, and vocalizations to demonstrate what he or she knows. Without the aid of technology, individuals who are unable to effectively communicate are frequently frustr
