Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) refers to communication methods that supplement or replace speech or writing. These can include non-verbal communication techniques such as facial expressions, eye gaze and gestures, as well as light, mid or high technology systems and devices such as:

AAC allows children and young adults to use every mode possible to communicate, including existing speech, in addition to vocalizations, gestures, manual signs and aided communication with a total communication approach.

AAC can be life-changing for children and young adults who have expressive communication impairments that interfere with or prevent development and use of verbal communication. These impairments may be due to congenital and/or acquired disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy, genetic syndromes, apraxia or speech, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, hearing impairment, stroke, and head injury.

The need for AAC may change over time. Sometimes children develop functional speech and may only need a device on occasion or in certain settings.

AAC can open more doors for children and young adults with communication impairments. When patients are able to have interpersonal, interactive communication, their opportunities increase for their education, employment and independence and lead to a brighter, more functional future.

Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital brings together several areas of expertise to provide communication services to children up to 21 years of age.

Our team works together to assess each child to determine if AAC can be beneficial, and to develop recommendations and implement strategies to enhance communication skills and independence. The team includes a speech language pathologist and an occupational therapist who will partner with the school, child and family to match the child’s communication needs and access abilities to an appropriate AAC system.

Throughout the evaluation process, an individualized treatment plan is developed for each patient. Plans typically consistent of trialing a variety of systems, vocabularies and set ups to complete feature making to determine the most appropriate system for the patient that will allow for successful functional communication. Together, after determining the appropriate device system, our team assists with purchasing and providing additional funding recommendations and referrals as needed.

In addition, we provide initial and ongoing treatment to the patient, family and other team members to help them learn how to use the system.