SLP: AAC Questions and Answers
What does AAC stand for? Correct Answer: Alternative and Augmentative communication
Definition of AAC Correct
... [Show More] Answer: *It does not need to be used INSTEAD of speech
-Its compensation for severe expressive or receptive language impairments
-It helps to augment or act as an alternative for communication for people who have language or speech impairments
What are some types of AAC? Correct Answer: PECS
Pictures boards
Alphabet boards
TobiiDynavox
IPad (Proloquo2go)
Speech generating devices
Low tech devices (fixed displays)
What is the difference between aided and unaided AAC? Correct Answer: Aided: requires the use of an external device
Unaided: no external device
Examples of unaided AAC Correct Answer: ASL
Gestures
Eye blinks
What is a dedicated system? Correct Answer: A system used for communication purposes only
Can anyone think of a dedicated system that is not speech generating? Correct Answer: PECS
There are nondedicated that also are speech generating. What is a nondedicated device? Give me an example? Correct Answer: IPad
*Any device that can use for another purpose besides communication
What is an attitudinal boundary? Correct Answer: -When a person's attitude, usually negative, affects the use and or learning of AAC
-It's both user or people around the user
-Examples: (slow speed of communicating; physical limitations of hands/fingers; being made fun of for the device; self-conscious; limited communication in general; talking for the child; not liking the voice of the device)
What is an availability boundary? Correct Answer: -the limited ability to obtain the device needed for AAC
-Unable to get a device due to financial issues
-The AAC device is inaccessible due to 3rd party circumstances (cost, insurance, etc.)
-It broke and they cannot afford to have it fixed
-Lack of education
-Some devices may be housed at school and are therefore inaccessible to them at home for communication
-Maybe multiple users
What are accessibility boundaries? Correct Answer: -Limited mobility; unable to use device
-This is where you may want to consult an OT to help
What is direct selection for an AAC system? Correct Answer: -Pointing/touching to make a selection
-The AAC users make the selections by directly choosing
-The form of selection in which the client makes selections by touching them with use of extremities
-Can be finger or some sort of pointer
-Eye gaze
What is scanning? Correct Answer: -A form of selection where the selector cycles through the icons that can be selected to get to a desired item
-Very good...scanning could be visual through picture or auditory (sound) for those with visual impairments
-Draw back: very time consuming
What is CORE language and how does it relate to AAC? Correct Answer: -Most common words but often not able to be depicted in 2D
-Core language is the primary and most used vocabulary
Aided AAC Correct Answer: System that uses something other than what is already possessed in the body limits of a person to communicate (i.e. a picture board or switch)
Unaided AAC Correct Answer: Carried out using only the structures and functions of a person such as speech, gestures, sign language
Dedicated system Correct Answer: AAC system that is strictly designed to be used to communicate. Examples: PECS or dynavox. The reasons these items are created are to be used as AAC systems
Non-dedicated systems Correct Answer: Some system that is used for other main functions other than a communication device. An example of this is a PC that has a communication software program on it like text to speech. It can be used as alternative speech, but also surfs the internet and does word processing. Another example is an iTouch iPod with the Proloquo application. It is an MP3 device that also has the capacity to be used as alternative communication.
Attitudinal boundaries Correct Answer: -Feeling of the AAC user or of people around him that negatively impact the use of AAC in an effective manner
-Reduced expectation of the user about himself, or those around him may not expect him to be able to communicate effectively
-learned helplessness, where the user failed to even attempt to communicate
-Assumption that the user cannot or will not communicate in a typical manner, so that the opportunity to do so is not provided
-Wanting to help or not embarrass the person with severe communication impairment, so to be kind, there is not opportunity given
-Failure to recognize that the AAC user can be an active participant in conversation. This causes the communication partner to initiate all topics and prompt or even respond for the AAC user instead of allowing time to converse at his ability level with the AAC systems in place
Availability boundaries Correct Answer: -Refer to those factors that prevent an AAC user from actually having the system or device on hand to use
-Lack of loaner or long-term use to even have on hand because professionals either avoid gaining a usable system for a client or they are not trained enough to feel comfortable with making the recommendation
-Device is available, but multiple users share it
-Device is individualized, but kept at school or out of reach so it is not broken
-System for an individual but no one can program or integrate it, so it is kept on the shelf
Accessibility boundaries Correct Answer: -Boundaries that physically prevent a client from using an AAC system
-Seating/positioning is not correct so that there is no optimum point of access
-Other impairments, such as mobility or behavior, are not addressed so that a system cannot be readily accessed
-Adequate matching of access options: head pointing, scan, switch use, etc...have not been assessed so the user does not have adequate device usability
Direct selection Correct Answer: The user points to touches, chooses a selection directly with their finger or some sort of extended pointer-like mouth pointer, etc.
Scanning Correct Answer: -Different sections or choices on a page of device are highlighted, usually by row, then by column, then by item, and the user makes a choice when the desired selection is highlighted. The choice can be made with one switch after an automatic scan or through the use of 2 switches, one to scan, the other to choose. The scanning can be done with visual changes on pictured screen or through sound scan for visually impaired people
Scanning as a method to access AAC Correct Answer: -Very tedious and time consuming
-Best user of AAC, with as much practice as possible, can only hope to get "less slow" using scanning
-Necessary for the SLP to try to use any other method available to avoid total dependence on traditional scan/switch methods
Core language Correct Answer: -Basic set of words that had been found through research to be universal through age, race, language, and situation. These are words that humans use most of the time. They are mostly words that are not concrete and are not easily pictured in 2D. The list begins in early language acquisition, and then is built upon during continued language development
Describe why motor planning is an important consideration when designing AAC systems. Talk about cognitive waste is a user when made to look for choices. Correct Answer: Motor planning is very important because an SLP must remember to build an AAC system that can maximize the utilization of consistency in motor planning. Even the most low tech system can be designed to have familiarity and consistency in position, size, color, and availability of choices. An AAC user will be more efficient and successful if the core vocabulary is positioned in a way that is dependable, so that those most frequent "hits" are able to become automatic. An SLP should avoid changing position and availability of most used items as the cognitive power needed to visually scan, recognize, and choose negativ [Show Less]