Augmentative and Alternative CommunicationThis is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader, such as GoogleReader, or to display this data on your own website or blog. Subscribe to this data using MyMedWorm.Subscribe to this data using GoogleReader.Subscribe to this data using Bloglines.Subscribe to this data using MyYahoo.

Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

• Contents
• Discussions

Pages: 1  2  

Navigating evidence-based information sources in augmentative and alternative communication.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
An important part of evidence-based practice is to identify the best and most current research evidence to guide clinical practice. The purpose of this paper is to propose the use of the 5-S model by Haynes ( 2006 ) as a principled approach for navigating evidence-based information sources related to interventions in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). The 5-S model is a pyramid that is used from the top down, beginning with systems followed by summaries, synopses, syntheses, and studies. The 5-S model is described along with relevant evidence-based information sources in AAC, and subsequently illustrated...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - November 14, 2009 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Schlosser RW, Sigafoos J Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

Translucency and Learnability of Blissymbols in Setswana-speaking Children: An Exploration.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study is partially based on the study by Quist et al. ( 1998 ), which utilized Dutch and American participants. Thirty-four Setswana children were exposed to 93 selected Blissymbols. A 3-point semantic differential scale consisting of three faces accompanied each Blissymbol, without the written gloss. This procedure was repeated over a period of 3 days. The results indicated that the majority of Blissymbols were rated as having high translucency ratings. The research further demonstrated significant differences in translucency between first and second exposures, suggesting that learning of the symbols had occurred. Th...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - November 14, 2009 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Bornman J, Alant E, Du Preez A Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

Impact of the Picture Exchange Communication System: Effects on Communication and Collateral Effects on Maladaptive Behaviors.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study investigated the use of PECS with three young boys with autism to determine the impact of PECS training on use of pictures for requesting, use of intelligible words, and maladaptive behaviors. A multiple baseline-probe design with a staggered start was implemented. Results indicated that all of the participants quickly learned to make requests using pictures and that two used intelligible speech following PECS instruction; maladaptive behaviors were variable throughout baseline and intervention phases. Although all of the participants improved in at least one dependent variable, there remain questions regarding ...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - November 3, 2009 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Ganz JB, Parker R, Benson J Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

Australian Speech-Language Pathologists' Perceptions and Experiences of Augmentative and Alternative Communication in Early Childhood Intervention.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) working in early childhood intervention are expected to have knowledge and skills across a number of areas and to engage in evidence-based practice. We explored the knowledge and perceptions of SLPs working with young children within Australian early childhood settings about augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), evidence-based practice, and barriers to such practice. Fourteen clinicians participated in group or individual interviews. Thematic analysis of the transcripts of these discussions revealed that they had a broad view of AAC and its benefits. Their reported assess...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - November 3, 2009 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Iacono T, Cameron M Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

The Use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Methods with Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities: A Research Review.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This review sought to determine the evidence base of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) use with infants and toddlers with disabilities. The review identified 12 studies, involving 190 participants aged 36 months or younger. The majority of the studies investigated unaided AAC methods (e.g., gestures or sign language), with 42% of the studies also including aided AAC methods. Although all studies reported improvement in child communication following AAC intervention, in-depth analyses of study methodology indicated that only 7 out of 12 provided conclusive evidence. Implications for early intervention AAC...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - November 3, 2009 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Branson D, Demchak M Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

Early Evidence of Low-Tech Communication in an Otto Dix Painting of 1920.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This paper presents and analyzes a finding that gives evidence of the use of a low-tech communication device long before the formal establishment of the field of augmentative and alternative communication. The device, a simple low-tech alphabet board, is portrayed in a 1920 painting of World War I veterans by German Expressionist Otto Dix. Entitled "War Cripples," the painting shows one of the veterans, who sustained severe disfigurement and jaw mutilation resulting in speech loss, pointing to a letter on a chart pinned to his uniform. The analysis of the painting utilized Aby Warburg's methodology for researching the ...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - November 3, 2009 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Reily L, Panhan H, Tupinambá A Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

An Examination of Preference for Augmentative and Alternative Communication Devices with Two Boys with Significant Intellectual Disabilities.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Selecting an appropriate mode of communication is an important clinical decision when beginning an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) intervention. In the present study, we investigated whether two boys with significant intellectual disabilities would show a preference for using one of three AAC devices. Initially, the boys were taught to use three AAC devices (i.e., Cyrano Communicator, Mini-MessageMate, and a Picture Communication Board) using a multiple-probe-across-devices design. One participant was successful with only one device, while the other was successful in acquiring basic use of all three de...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - November 3, 2009 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Cannella-Malone HI, Debar RM, Sigafoos J Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

The Effect of High-tech AAC System Position on the Joint Attention of Infants without Disabilities.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Joint attention is critical for language development in children. Children with complex communication needs have additional challenges in managing their joint attention, and there is minimal information on how to reduce these demands. Sixteen infants without disabilities and their caregivers participated in a within-subjects design with two storybook reading interactions. In reading, the researcher either held a high-tech AAC system directly in front of herself (aligned with eye-gaze) or to the side (divided from eye-gaze). The frequency and duration of coordinated and passive joint attention episodes were analyzed. Th...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - July 23, 2009 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Smith JL, McCarthy JW, Benigno JP Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

The Loneliness Experiences of Young Adults with Cerebral Palsy who use Alternative and Augmentative Communication.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Young adults with cerebral palsy who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems may be at increased risk of loneliness due to the additional challenges they experience with communication. Six young adults, aged 24-30 years, who used AAC and had cerebral palsy, participated in in-depth interviews to explore their experiences of loneliness as they made the transition into adulthood. A total of five major themes in the data were identified using the constant comparative method of analysis. Three of these themes were discussed by all participants: (a) Support Networks, (b) AAC System Use, and (c) Technolo...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - July 5, 2009 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Cooper L, Balandin S, Trembath D Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

Metrics for Comparing Three Word-Based Software Programs Used for Augmentative and Alternative Communication.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The purpose of this investigation was to conduct an analysis of a set of metrics developed for comparing features of software used in speech generating devices (SGD) for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). These metrics - measures of speed, efficiency, and accuracy - were employed during a sentence reconstruction task. Twenty two participants without disabilities reconstructed nine sentences using each of three SGD software programs, counterbalanced to remove order effects. Results revealed differences in the metrics across the software programs that were supported by a social validation survey completed ...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - June 17, 2009 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Ratcliff A, Sutton BA, Lehman M Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

Reliability of Speech Generating Devices: A 5-Year Review.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study examined the reliability of new SGDs and found that mean time to first failure was 42.7 (SD = 41.2) weeks and at least 40% required repairs within the first year of use. The components that most frequently broke down were touch screens, wiring, main boards, batteries, memory cards, and AC adaptors. The costs of repairing SGDs were analyzed. The clinical implications of device breakdown are identified for key stakeholders, including clients, families, service providers, funding agencies, and manufacturers. PMID: 19544105 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication)
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - June 17, 2009 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Shepherd TA, Campbell KA, Renzoni AM, Sloan N Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

Participant evaluations of rate and communication efficacy of an AAC application using natural language processing.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article reports on the subjective data gathered from an experimental evaluation of Converser's efficacy (see Wisenburn and Higginbotham, 2008 for a full description of Converser and the objective results). Converser was evaluated in two communication tasks (a Conversation and an Interview task) under two conditions: a simple alphabet board without Converser (alpha-only condition), and an identical board with Converser (alpha-Converser condition). Subjective data was gathered through rating questionnaires and written comments. Program users rated the speed of communication faster in the alpha-Converser condition. Progr...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - May 31, 2009 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Wisenburn B, Higginbotham DJ Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

Telephone talk: effects of timing and use of a floorholder message on telephone conversations using synthesized speech.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Telephone interaction remains a challenging form of communication for many who use speech-generating devices (SGDs). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of delayed starts and floorholder information at the beginning of synthesized-speech telephone calls to local businesses. Calls were placed to 100 randomly selected businesses asking for business hours. Each call was randomly assigned to one of four experimental conditions: a floorholder present with no delay, a floorholder present with a delay, floorholder absent and no delay, and floorholder absent with a delay. Overall, 76% of the calls were unsu...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - May 31, 2009 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Hanson EK, Sundheimer C Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

A comparison of picture exchange and speech-generating devices: acquisition, preference, and effects on social interaction.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) includes picture exchange (PE) and speech-generating devices (SGD), but these two systems have rarely been compared. We therefore conducted three studies comparing PE and SGD for an adolescent boy with a developmental disability. Study 1 compared acquisition of a PE- and SGD-based requesting response and monitored the effects on social interaction. For Study 2, both communication modes were made simultaneously available and the child could choose to use either PE or the SGD. For Study 3, only PE intervention continued, with the distance between the child and trainer syst...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - May 31, 2009 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Sigafoos J, Green VA, Payne D, Son SH, O'Reilly M, Lancioni GE Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

"All children can and should have the opportunity to learn": general education teachers' perspectives on including children with autism spectrum disorder who require AAC.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
A qualitative online focus group methodology was used to investigate the experiences of five elementary school teachers (grades K-5) who had included in their general education classrooms children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) who required augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Information was obtained from the participants in the following areas: (a) the benefits of educational inclusion, (b) the negative impacts of educational inclusion, (c) the challenges of educational inclusion, (d) the supports for educational inclusion, and (e) recommendations for other teachers and individuals involved in the ...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - May 31, 2009 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Finke EH, McNaughton DB, Drager KD Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

Teaching sound letter correspondence and consonant-vowel-consonant combinations to young children who use augmentative and alternative communication.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The purpose of this study was to provide a preliminary examination of an intervention strategy designed to teach sound-letter correspondence and spelling of consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) combinations to young children who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). A multiple baseline probe design across behaviors was used to assess the effects of the intervention on the percentage of correct responses provided by two participants on the target skills during free-choice play activities in the literacy center of inclusive classrooms. The results of this study provide preliminary support for the use of the in...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - May 31, 2009 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Johnston SS, Davenport L, Kanarowski B, Rhodehouse S, McDonnell AP Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

Comparison of fixed and gradual array when teaching sound-letter correspondence to two children with autism who use AAC.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The purpose of this study was to compare two conditions for teaching two children with autism (ages 4;10 and 5;4) who used Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) to point to the printed letter that corresponded to the spoken letter sounds of /t/ and /m/. In one condition (gradual array), the printed letter was first presented in isolation and then distracter letters were gradually introduced. In the other condition (fixed array), the printed letter was immediately presented in combination with seven distracter letters. Using an alternating treatment design, results revealed that the fixed array condition resu...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - May 31, 2009 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Johnston SS, Buchanan S, Davenport L Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

Impact factors and the h-index: what researchers and readers need to know.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
PMID: 19280418 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication)
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - March 1, 2009 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Balandin S, Stancliffe RJ Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

Supplementary online material: potential and precautions.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
PMID: 19280419 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication)
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - March 1, 2009 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: McCarthy J Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

DECtalk and VeriVox: intelligibility, likeability, and rate preference differences for four listener groups.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The intelligibility, likeability, and speech presentation rates for two types of popular synthesized speech, DECtalk and VeriVox, were investigated across four age groups ranging from 6-85 years old. Results for all age groups revealed differences in intelligibility between synthesized adult and child voices, with intelligibility scores for child synthesized voices significantly below those for adult synthesized voices. The most popular synthesized voices were from the VeriVox family. Of interest is that preferred speech presentation rate, expressed as mean words per minute, increased as a function of age, with the old...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - March 1, 2009 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Von Berg S, Panorska A, Uken D, Qeadan F Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

Comparison of three head-controlled mouse emulators in three light conditions.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Three infrared head-controlled mouse emulators (HeadMouse Extreme, Tracker Pro and Tracker Inside) were paired with an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device (Pathfinder) and tested for speed and accuracy in three different light conditions. Eleven participants tested the systems, entering a list of common statements used by AAC users. The Language Activity Monitor (LAM) recorded all selections made. The data were analyzed for error rate and selection rate. The results revealed that (a) in a single light condition, the different mouse emulators performed significantly differently from each other, (b) i...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - March 1, 2009 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Fitzgerald MM, Sposato B, Politano P, Hetling J, O'Neill W Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

Recognition and use of line drawings by children with severe intellectual disabilities: the effects of color and outline shape.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study investigated the effects of the match between color and shape of line drawings and the objects they represented on drawing recognition and use. The match or non-match between color and shape of the objects and drawings did not have an effect on participants' ability to match drawings to objects, or to use drawings to make choices. PMID: 19280422 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication)
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - March 1, 2009 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Stephenson J Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

AAC technology transfer: an AAC-RERC report.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Transferring innovative technologies from the university to the manufacturing sector can often be an elusive and problematic process. The Rehabilitation and Engineering Research Center on Communication Enhancement (AAC-RERC) has worked with the manufacturing community for the last 10 years. The purpose of this article is to discuss barriers to technology transfer, to outline some technology transfer strategies, and to illustrate these strategies with AAC-RERC related activities. PMID: 19280423 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication)
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - March 1, 2009 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Higginbotham DJ, Beukelman D, Blackstone S, Bryen D, Caves K, Deruyter F, Jakobs T, Light J, McNaughton D, Moulton B, Shane H, Williams MB Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

Functional Communication in Individuals with Chronic Severe Aphasia Using Augmentative Communication.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study examined abilities of three individuals with chronic non-fluent aphasia (NA) using a dynamic display AAC device to enhance communication. The device, Dialect with Speaking Dynamically Pro, was tailored to each participant's skill level using a treatment protocol adapted from Koul, Corwin, and Hayes (2005). The primary caregiver was the spouse. Pre and post-treatment measures revealed improvement in quality and effectiveness of communication for all participants. Improved linguistic and cognitive functioning was observed for two participants. Results are discussed relative to use of a device with other adults wit...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - November 23, 2008 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Johnson RK, Hough MS, King KA, Vos P, Jeffs T Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

The Vocabulary of Beginning Writers: Implications for Children with Complex Communication Needs.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
One of the greatest challenges facing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) professionals is providing children with complex communication needs with access to the vocabulary that they need in order to develop mature language and literacy abilities. The purpose of this study was to analyze the vocabulary used by typically developing early-elementary children in the United States and New Zealand when they write about self-selected topics, in order to inform practices with children with complex communication needs. The children's writing samples were compared across school ages and countries. The school age co...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - November 23, 2008 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Clendon SA, Erickson KA Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

Vocabulary to Support Socially-Valued Adult Roles.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study explored whether vocabulary needed to participate in six adult roles currently existed in three widely used symbol sets. Electronic mailing lists were used to generate words needed for each adult role. From these vocabulary sets, discrepancy analyses were conducted to determine whether symbols or symbol combinations in each of the symbol sets studied could represent those words. Results suggest that, overall, an average of 55% of the identified words was currently available in these symbol sets. The need for easily accessible vocabulary that reflects socially-valued adult roles is discussed. PMID: 19023751 [...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - November 23, 2008 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Bryen DN Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

Which Graphic Symbols do 4-Year-Old Children Choose to Represent Each of the Four Basic Emotions?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The purpose of this study was to investigate which graphic symbols are perceived by typically developing 4-year-old children as the best representation of four basic emotions. Participants were asked to respond to questions by using graphic symbols taken from PCStrade mark, PICSYMStrade mark, and Makatontrade mark for four basic emotions: happy, sad, afraid, angry. The purpose was to determine which graphic symbol the children selected as a representation of an emotion. Frequencies of choices per symbol were obtained and the different symbols were analysed in terms of facial features that distinguish them from each oth...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - November 23, 2008 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Visser N, Alant E, Harty M Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

Communication Access in the Library for Individuals who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Libraries for All is a community-based program that aims to enhance communication access to the library for individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), by providing resources and instruction. The goals are to (a) provide communication boards, (b) complete facilitator training, and (c) promote the program. To accomplish these goals, four communication boards were created and provided to all public libraries in London, Ontario. A train-the-trainer model was employed to ensure that all members of the library staff were familiar with the boards and aware of strategies to communicate more effective...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - November 23, 2008 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Shepherd TA, McDougall S Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

Making a difference: a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the international society for augmentative and alternative communication.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
PMID: 18830908 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication)
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - October 3, 2008 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Light J, McNaughton D Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

"Reach for the Stars": Five Principles for the Next 25 Years of AAC.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Basing our work on the published writings of individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and their family members, we offer five principles to guide AAC assessment, intervention, research, and development: (a) The time for AAC is now; (b) One is never enough; (c) My AAC must fit my life; (d) AAC must support full participation in all aspects of 21st century life; and (e) Nothing about me without me. These five principles are individually important, but also interconnected, and are meant to provide clear goals for the field of AAC as we work towards the achievement of communication and participa...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - October 3, 2008 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Williams MB, Krezman C, McNaughton D Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

AAC Interventions for Children in a Family Environment: Implementing Evidence in Practice.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Interventions that focus on implementing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) strategies and methods have been available to children in need of AAC and their families for at least 30 years. To date, most of the research that has considered AAC in family settings has been focused on gathering evidence of the effects of AAC interventions, rather than on implementing evidence-based strategies in everyday practice to improve outcomes. The purpose of this article is to discuss the research that has focused on parents as AAC interventionists, the family as a context for AAC intervention, and the effects of AAC in...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - October 3, 2008 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Granlund M, Bjorck-Akesson E, Wilder J, Ylven R Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

A Back Door Approach to Autism and AAC.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The conventional view is that most individuals with autism or pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) have no significant motor impairments but do have severe intellectual disabilities. These assumptions impact the nature and types of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) interventions that are typically provided, which tend to be narrowly focused on basic, functional communication skills such as requesting. However, recent research has provided evidence that challenges these assumptions and suggests the potential of intervention approaches targeting motor, language, and literacy d...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - October 3, 2008 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Mirenda P Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

Whole Utterance Approaches in AAC.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Increased communication rate has long been a goal of both individuals who use AAC and device manufacturers. There is evidence that utterance-based approaches have the potential to deliver faster rates without loss of coherence. An overview of the historical development of devices that embody such approaches is set out here. This account focuses on the theoretical origins of utterance-based devices (UBDs) and the range of approaches that these have produced. Next, the issue of a causal relationship between conversational rate and positive attributions is addressed. Three recent studies supporting a causal relationship a...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - October 3, 2008 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Todman J, Alm N, Higginbotham J, File P Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

An AAC Personnel Framework: Adults with Acquired Complex Communication Needs.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
A personnel framework designed to support people who rely on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) because of acquired medical conditions and those who assist them is described. The roles of AAC finders, general practice clinicians, AAC intervention specialists, AAC facilitators, and AAC experts are summarized. These roles are described in detail for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, brainstem impairment, and severe chronic aphasia. The personnel preparation needs for each of these support personnel groups are identified. PMID: 18830913 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication)
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - October 3, 2008 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Beukelman DR, Ball LJ, Fager S Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

Editorial.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Authors: PMID: 18256961 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication)
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - July 7, 2008 Category: Speech Therapy Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

Interaction between children with cerebral palsy and their peers 2: understanding initiated VOCA-mediated turns.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This paper is the second in a series of two that examine interactions between children with cerebral palsy who have complex communication needs and use voice output communication aids (VOCAs) and their naturally speaking peers. The current study expands on the analysis from the companion paper by exploring how problems emerge for naturally speaking children in understanding initiated VOCA-mediated turns. Conversation Analysis (CA) is used as a method for exploring the children's practices in organizing conversations into two dyads. The relationship between the sequential organization of the children's talk and the unde...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - July 7, 2008 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Clarke M, Wilkinson R Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

"A child needs to be given a chance to succeed": Parents of individuals who use AAC describe the benefits and challenges of learning AAC technologies.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Seven parents of individuals with cerebral palsy who used augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices participated in a focus group discussion on the benefits and challenges of learning AAC technology. The focus group was conducted on the Internet over a 9-week period. Six major themes emerged from the discussion: (a) issues in the selection of AAC technology; (b) knowledge and skills needed to use AAC technology; (c) barriers to learning AAC technology; (d) teaching the individual; (e) educating society; and (f) recommendations to others. Important supports to learning how to make effective use of AAC tec...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - July 7, 2008 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: McNaughton D, Rackensperger T, Benedek-Wood E, Krezman C, Williams MB, Light J Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

Effectiveness of multifaceted narrative intervention on the stories told by a 12-year-old girl who uses AAC.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Children who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) have been found to experience difficulties in the elicited generation of both personal and fictional narratives. The purpose of this single case study was to evaluate the effects of a multifaceted intervention program designed to support the development of autonomous narrative skills in children who used AAC. The relationship between exposure to the intervention program and increases in the narrative skills of the focus child was investigated using a single case, multiple probe baseline design. Results indicate that the narratives of the focus child impr...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - July 7, 2008 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Soto G, Yu B, Kelso J Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

Generalization of a pictorial alternative communication system across instructors and distance.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Nonverbal individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) often require the use of picture-based, aided augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems. Such systems are used widely, but little research has investigated the generalization of these devices to a variety of communicative partners and under a variety of conditions. We investigated use of a modified Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) protocol to teach AAC-supported functional communication skills to a 12-year-old boy with autism. Results indicate that the participant was able to generalize his communication skills across a variety of ins...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - July 7, 2008 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Ganz JB, Sigafoos J, Simpson RL, Cook KE Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

An AAC application using speaking partner speech recognition to automatically produce contextually relevant utterances: objective results.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a computer program, Converser, which uses the speech recognition of the speaking partner to predict contextually appropriate utterances and to store relevant noun phrases. The dyads (which consisted of a program user and a speaking partner) tested Converser in two communication tasks: a conversation and an interview. Two conditions were applied: A simple communication aid with an alphabet layout without Converser (alpha-only condition), and an identical aid with Converser (alpha-converser condition). Objective measurements were made concerning the program user's...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - July 7, 2008 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Wisenburn B, Higginbotham DJ Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

'I've got something to say': interaction in a focus group of adults with cerebral palsy and complex communication needs.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This paper describes the outcomes of a pilot study examining the roles of the moderator and participants in one focus group of six adults with complex communication needs. In the group, participants used a variety of communication methods including AAC and dysarthric speech. An analysis of the focus group interaction revealed that (a) both the moderator and participants played an active role in clarifying and repairing communication in the group, and (b) the group interacted successfully to discuss the focus group questions. The implications of the study for moderators and including adults with complex communication ne...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - July 7, 2008 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Hemsley B, Balandin S, Togher L Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

The morphology and syntax of individuals who use AAC: research review and implications for effective practice.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
A research review of 31 studies pertaining to the morphology and syntax of individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and who had severe speech and physical impairments (SSPI) was completed. Results suggest that, although many individuals who use AAC exhibit comprehension and expression of a wide range of grammatical structures, these individuals are at risk for experiencing grammar deficits. A wide range of individual differences was noted, both within and across many of the investigations. One of the more robust findings was that individuals tended to produce shorter utterances when they use...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - July 7, 2008 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Binger C, Light J Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

Memory ability of children with complex communication needs.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Phonological memory is central to language and reading and writing skills. Many children with complex communication needs (CCN) experience problems with reading and writing acquisition. The reason could be because of the absence of articulatory ability, which might have a negative affect on phonological memory. Phonological and visuo-spatial short-term memory and working memory were tested in 15 children with CCN, aged 5 - 12 years, and compared to children with natural speech matched for gender, and mental and linguistic age. Results indicated weaker phonological STM and visuo-spatial STM and WM in children with CCN. ...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - July 7, 2008 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Larsson M, Sandberg AD Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

Hierarchy of conversational rule violations involving utterance-based augmentative and alternative communication systems.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study examined the effects of using messages with conversational rule violations on attitudes toward people who used utterance-based augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems in transactional interactions. Specifically, the ratings were compared across messages with relevance, informativeness, and brevity violations, when latency remained constant (i.e., short). The 96 participating sales clerks viewed scripted, videotaped bookstore conversations and completed an attitude questionnaire. Results indicated that the prestored message with repeated words/phrases was rated the highest, followed by the messag...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - July 7, 2008 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Hoag LA, Bedrosian JL, McCoy KF, Johnson DE Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

Moving targets: the effect of animation on identification of action word representations.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study examined the conditions under which action representations - presented in both static and dynamic formats - were most readily identified. Preschoolers without disabilities selected graphics corresponding to a spoken word from a computerized four-choice array. Although pre-tests confirmed that the children had all of the stimulus words in their lexical repertoires, their demonstration of that knowledge when the stimuli were presented in graphical form was less robust. The children were generally more challenged by the static representations than the dynamic ones, and their performances were most accurate with the...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - July 7, 2008 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Mineo BA, Peischl D, Pennington C Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

The Swedish Speech Interpretation Service: an exploratory study of a new communication support provided to people with aphasia.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Until recently, people with complex communication needs have had no access to professional interpreters. The Swedish Speech Interpretation Service (SSIS) is attempting to address this problem. This qualitative study reports on how 12 persons with aphasia experienced the services of a professional interpreter from the SSIS. The results are presented in two themes: (a) The purpose of using an interpreter, which addresses issues relating to autonomy, privacy, and burden on family members; and (b) perceptions of quality of service, which addresses issues relating to the skills and professionalism of and accessibility to in...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - December 1, 2007 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Larsson I, Thorén-Jönsson AL Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

Interaction between children with cerebral palsy and their peers 1: Organizing and understanding VOCA use.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This paper is the first in a series of two that use the principles and practices of Conversation Analysis (CA) in an examination of voice output communication aid (VOCA) use in two conversations, each involving a child with cerebral palsy with complex communication needs who used a VOCA and a peer without complex communication needs. The primary theme of this paper concerns how VOCA use is incorporated into children's peer interactions. A significant feature of each dyad is the way in which naturally speaking partners organized specific locations within the conversation for the production of VOCA-mediated turns. Such p...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - December 1, 2007 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Clarke M, Wilkinson R Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

The World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health: implications for clinical and research practice in the field of augmentative and alternative communication.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article describes the earlier International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities, and Handicaps (ICIDH), upon which the current ICF was based; and outlines the ICF and the preliminary, derived Child and Youth version of the ICF (ICF-CY). The article also proposes what the ICF has to offer the AAC field, from both a clinical and research perspective; and concludes with a discussion of the advantages and challenges of using the ICF. PMID: 17999247 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] (Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication)
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - December 1, 2007 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Raghavendra P, Bornman J, Granlund M, Björck-Akesson E Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

Further Considerations of visual cognitive neuroscience in aided AAC: The potential role of motion perception systems in maximizing design display.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Current augmentative and alternative communication technologies allow animation within visual symbol displays. Clinicians therefore have the option of incorporating motion-based effects into AAC displays. Yet there is no research in the field of AAC to guide this clinical decision-making, in terms of the number or types of animated symbols that would best suit specific communication needs. A great deal is known within the discipline of cognitive neuroscience about how humans perceive motion, however. In this paper we propose that the field of AAC might exploit these known principles of motion perception, and we identif...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - September 18, 2007 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Jagaroo V, Wilkinson K Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals

Key principles underlying research and practice in AAC.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Six principles of AAC research and practice are offered for consideration and discussion within the AAC community. Principle 1 requires the active participation of individuals with complex communication needs (CCN) in all AAC activities. Principle 2 seeks to ensure that theoretical constructs underlying research and development in AAC are grounded, widely accepted, and clearly defined. Principle 3 underscores the need to use ergonomics in the design and development of AAC technologies and instructional strategies. Principle 4 highlights communication partners and the unique roles they play in AAC. Principle 5 accentuat...
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication - September 1, 2007 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Blackstone SW, Williams MB, Wilkins DP Tags: Augment Altern Commun Source Type: journals