CSD5230 Advanced Applications in Communication Modalities

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CSD 5230 Advanced Applications in Communication
Modalities

• Introduction to AAC
• Orientation to Course
• Assessment
• Report Writing

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Perceptions Associated with AAC
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Definition of AAC

• (Advanced Audio Coding) An audio compression
  technology that provides greater compression
  and better sound quality than MP3

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Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ASHA,
2005)

• refers "to an area of research, clinical, and
  educational practice.
• AAC involves attempts to study and when necessary
  compensate for temporary or permanent
  impairments, activity limitations, and
  participation restrictions of individuals with
  severe disorders of speech-language production
  and/or comprehension, including spoken and
  written modes of communication"

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Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ASHA,
1991)

• An integrated group of components, including the
  symbols, aids, strategies and techniques used by
  individuals to enhance communication.

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Symbols

• refer to the methods used for visual, auditory,
  and/or tactile representation of conventional
  concepts
• gestures
• manual sign sets/systems
• printed words
• objects
• spoken words
• Braille
• pictures/photographs

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Aids

• refer to physical objects or devices used to
  transmit or receive messages
• a communication book, board, chart,
• electronic device, or
• computer

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Strategies

• refer to ways of using AAC aids, symbols, and/or
  techniques more effectively for enhanced
  communication.
• a strategy is a plan that can facilitate one's
  performance.
• goal of AAC is the most effectivecommunication
  possible for the individual (Hill, n.d.)

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Speech Supplementation

• Strategies that provide contextual information
  that helps communication partners understand the
  speech signal
• Alphabet Supplementation
• Topic Supplementation

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Alphabet Supplementation
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Topic Supplementation
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Techniques

• refer to a method of transmitting messages
• linear scanning
• row-column scanning
• encoding, signing
• natural gesturing

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TechniquesModes

• refer to modes of communication
• Speech
• Facial expression
• Eye gaze
• Gestures
• Manual Signs
• Picture Exchanges
• Communication Boards
• Voice Output Communication Aids (Voca)

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AAC System Communication System

• It is an integrated network of techniques, aids,
  strategies, and skills that a person uses to
  communicate.
• AAC incorporates the individual's full
  communication abilities (multimodal), which may
  include
• speech and other vocalizations,
• facial and manual gestures,
• as well as specific strategies and skills for
  using these various modes successfully in a
  variety of communication contexts
• An aid is not a communication system, but rather
  one component of an individual's communication
  overall system
• The use of special devices and methods of
  communication enhances or provides alternatives
  for spoken language.
• The use and needs of AAC systems may change over
  time...

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Augmentative and Alternative Communication
(Lewis, 1993)

• AAC A set of approaches that is used to improve
  the communication skills of a person who does not
  speak or whose speech is not intelligible.
• Augmentative Communication Approaches are used to
  supplement, enhance or support the communication
  processes for persons who have some speaking
  skills.
• Alternative Approaches replace speech as a means
  of communication.
• Lewis, R. (1993). Special education technology
  Classroom applications. Belmont CA Wadsworth.

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AAC Terms

• Aided - A term used to refer to communication
  symbols, strategies, or techniques that use
  something external to the body to represent,
  select, or transmit messages.
• Aided Communication - Communication that uses
  aided symbols and some type of external aid or
  assistive communication device.
• Alternative Input Devices - Devices that enable
  access to technology through alternatives to
  direct selection ( single or multiple switches,
  expanded keyboards).

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AAC Terms

• Assistive Technology (ATTO) - Any specialized
  device or service used by individuals with
  disabilities to increase their ability to
  participate in tasks of learning and daily living
  to function as independently as possible.
• Dedicated Communication Device - A device
  specifically designed to be used for
  communication but that may also interface to a
  computer, printer, and an environmental control
  unit.
• Non-dedicated AAC Systems - Devices not
  specifically designed for communication that can
  be adapted to function as AAC devices
  (computers).

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AAC Terms

• Nonoral (nonvocal) - Literally, without speech,
  voice, or oral production.
• Nonverbal - Without language.
• Speech Generating Device (SGD) is a term used by
  Medicare to identify a range of voice output AAC
  systems.
• Spontaneous Novel Utterance Generation (SNUG) is
  based on access to individual words,
  collocations, and commonly used phrases of our
  language

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AAC Terms

• Unaided communication - communication using
  unaided symbols and only parts of the body
  without any aids or devices (e.g. , facial
  expression, gesture, manual sign, natural
  speech).
• Voice Output Communication Aid (VOCA) - An
  assistive communication device that features
  electronically produced voice/speech.

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What Really Counts

• Outcomes
• Appropriate (Meaningful)
• Based on
• Knowing what to do
• Knowing what questions to ask
• Implementation
• Client/family Satisfaction