What is known about the effectiveness of AACs?

Advantages of AAC systems are:

■ They do not interfere with speech development and may encourage it.

■ They may involve modality, specific styles and strategies.

■ They can provide:

■ a means of communication for people at an early stage of development.

■ a means of communication and language for those whose speech is unintelligible.

■ a bridge to spoken language.

■ They require interdisciplinary assessment, coordination and monitoring.

■ Teachers, teaching assistants and therapists, schools and families can make a difference.

Discussion

■ Make a list of advantages you have noticed in a classroom or other learning environment, where a learner with a speech and language difficulty has been given either an aided or unaided means of communication.

■ Then discuss with a colleague how the educators managed to implement this specific strategy for the learner.

■ Who else was involved before it could be initiated? Was training required?

Disadvantages of AAC systems are:

■ If learners have to use their AAC system away from the rest of their school peers, the system user can feel isolated.

■ If learners cannot use their AAC system freely, but are tied to subject timetables or school terms for availability, they become less useful and less productive.

■ Limited speech and language therapy input and training.

■ Negative attitudes towards the use of AAC systems.

■ Lack of training for professionals may drastically restrict the use or effectiveness of AAC systems.

(Chinner et al., 2001: 6)

Discussion

If you know of an incident when a learners AAC system has unsuccessfully been introduced into the learning environment, identify the reasons why you feel this was not successful.