When is it Appropriate to Consider Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) For Children with Apraxia of Speech?
by Dyann Rupp, M.S., CCC-SLP This question is increasingly asked as parents and caregivers become more aware of the benefits and positive outcomes of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). My response to this question is that AAC is an appropriate consideration very early in intervention. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association defines AAC as … “a set of procedures and processes by which an individuals communication skills (i.e., production as well as comprehension) can be maximized for functional and effective communication. In other words, AAC includes any form of communication other than speech that allows the user to communicate in his or her surroundings.” Light (1988) identified four primary functions, or purposes, of communication. These include: (1) expression of wants and needs, (2) exchange of information, (3) social closeness, and (4) social etiquette. Typically-developing children use speech to function within these areas. When speech is not adequate t
