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Augmentative and Alternative Communication (Practice Portal)
Part of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
USIndependent publisher
This describes who publishes a source, not how reliable it is.
Open source (opens in a new tab)Link checked August 2026
About this source
The US speech-language pathology professional body's practice guidance on AAC: what it covers, how systems are assessed and matched, and how communication partners are trained.
Where this source is used
Used in 3 places across 1 domain.
Questions
Communication
Speech Tech
- How do I choose and trial communication tools?
Supports this
“Which tool is right depends on the individual: the features of an AAC system are chosen against that person's own skills and needs.”
Sets out choosing a system as feature matching. The features to settle on, from the type of display and the way it is controlled to portability and how far it can be modified later, are determined from that individual's own assessed skills and needs, not from a ranked list of products.
- How do I choose and trial communication tools?
Supports this
“Trying a device out matters, because how well it suits someone often cannot be judged from the initial assessment.”
The speech pathology professional body treats device trials as part of the treatment itself, on the grounds that an assessment does not reliably show whether a particular device will work for someone.
Trials of specific devices are often a component of AAC treatment, and an individual's success with a specific device may not be effectively determined upon initial assessment.
Assessment Considerations - How does communication technology fit with daily life?
Supports this
“How the other person behaves changes how well the conversation goes, which is why communication partners are trained too.”
Treats the person on the other side of the conversation as part of the intervention. Partner training covers active listening and allowing longer waiting time before taking a turn, and it notes that people abandon communication aids when partner input is left out.
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