At Gigi’s Kids Speech & Therapy Clinic, we believe every child deserves a voice. Our Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC) services empower children with the tools and strategies they need to express themselves, connect with others, and thrive. Whether your child uses gestures, picture boards, or advanced speech-generating devices, our expert team is here to guide them on their journey to effective and meaningful communication. Let’s build confidence and communication skills together!

Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC)

What is Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC)?

AAC refers to any mode of communication method that helps or replaces speaking or writing for individuals who struggle to produce or comprehend spoken or written language. This may include pointing to or exchanging pictures, using sign language, using a Speech Generating Device (SGD) that will speak a message when a user pushes a button, or various other forms of communication. See below for more information.

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Different Forms of AAC

Take a peak at the three most common forms of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

#1

No Tech

Gestures, manual signs, facial expressions, vocalizations, body language, etc.

#2

Low Tech

Pictures, writing, communication boards, objects, etc.

#3

High Tech

SGD’s with software programs such as, TouchChat, LAMP, Proloquo2go, Snap + Core First, and many more!

Who Benefits from Using AAC?

Augmentative and Alternative Communication is designed for individuals who have difficulty executing verbal speech to communicate their everyday wants and needs. AAC is also beneficial when a child’s speech output is not adequate to communicate everything they need to communicate, including social communication (greetings, commenting, protesting, etc.) with family members and their peers. AAC is used with various populations, including people with Verbal Apraxia and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Many children and adults with autism are often labeled as “non-verbal”, but as many therapists and parents know, our kids have a lot to say, they just are unable to speak the words. Research has shown that individuals with autism are visual learners (Bernard-Opitz et al., 2010), and when visual strategies are utilized, “it not only helps individuals on the autism spectrum function more successfully, but also facilitates language skills and helps manage behaviors."

FAQs

There is a common misconception that a child must have a certain number of skills before trialing an AAC device, but that is not true! There are no behavioral or cognitive prerequisite skills that need to be demonstrated before AAC is introduced. It is important to presume competence and potential, which means we believe that all individuals have the potential to connect with others, learn, communicate, and develop literacy skills no matter what their diagnoses may be.

Resources:

What Skills Do Children Need Before Using an AAC Device? - Article from one of our colleagues in the field of Speech and Language Pathology

This is a very common question, yet valid concern, we receive from parents when we first discuss AAC options. Research has demonstrated that using AAC does NOT limit a child’s ability to learn to talk, in fact AAC have been shown to do the opposite! Many children make great gains in their speech because an AAC system helps them build functional communication skills.

Resources:

The Impact of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Intervention on the Speech Production of Individuals With Developmental Disabilities: A Research Review

Introducing AAC to your child starts with modeling its use during everyday activities. Show your child how to use the AAC system to express choices, feelings, or requests naturally and meaningfully. For example, use the device or communication board to say "I want juice" during snack time or "Let's play" during free time.

By consistently incorporating AAC into routines, you demonstrate its purpose and value, making it an integral part of communication. Keep the interactions positive and engaging, celebrating any attempt your child makes to use the system, no matter how small. Over time, with patience and encouragement, your child will become more confident in using AAC to express themselves.

AAC Usage Best Practices

DO

Presume competence and potential of the AAC user’s skills and abilities!

MODEL a variety of language! Greetings, wants/needs, emotions, comments (i.e. wow! cool, pretty, etc.), basic concepts (i.e. big, small, same, different)

Allow wait time (10-20 seconds) before re-prompting or repeating your question

Provide Aided Language Input and sit closely with the AAC user to assist when needed. ▶️

Allow the user to learn the system by providing them the opportunity to explore their AAC device—we refer to this as “babbling” (pressing a variety of buttons)

Follow a prompting hierarchy 🖻

Have AAC available at ALL times

Ask open-ended questions

Allow the user to learn the system by providing them the opportunity to explore their AAC device—we refer to this as “babbling” (pressing a variety of buttons)

DON'T

Expect an AAC user to have the ability to communicate without support and models provided

Only focus on teaching nouns and requesting

Over-prompt or repeat your questions too quickly

Remove the device from the AAC user’s possession

Stop a new AAC user from “babbling”—this is how they develop navigation skills/ learn the placement of symbols

Automatically provide hand-over-hand assistance or over-prompt

Keep the users AAC system out of reach

Move symbols on the users AAC system

Focus on teaching vocabulary that is not functional to the AAC user

Only ask yes/no questions

Created by: Jen Carlesimo, M.A., CF-SLP

FOR PARENTS