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Have you ever wondered how to communicate without speaking?
Did you know that it is possible to communicate without speaking?
Without using words or formal sign language, turn to the person next to you and tell them what your favorite meal is.
How did it go? Did you manage to get your message across?
The means (other than speech) used to send a message from one person to another are called alternative and augmentative communication.
We all use different means to communicate.
Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) is an umbrella term to describe various different means of communication that can add or provide an alternative to verbal language.
“Alternative” means “instead of” while “augmentative” means “as well as”.
AAC interventions are multimodal (using a variety of modes or methods) and should utilize all of an individual’s communication skills that include speech or residual signs, gestures, vocalizations, and assisted communication.
Types of AAC
There are basically two types of AAC, namely unassisted and assisted AAC.
Unattended AAC primarily refers to AACs that do not require any external equipment.
They rely on the user’s body to deliver the messages.
Facial expressions, signature and gestures are examples of unassisted ABA systems.
Assisted ABA, on the other hand, refers to ACAs that require external equipment.
They require the use of tools or equipment in addition to the user’s body.
Assisted AACs can range from paper and pencil to books or communication boards to devices that produce voice output and / or written output.
In fact, each individual uses some form of AAC to augment or alternate their speech.
Who benefits?
For various reasons, some people may not have a means of communication that meets their basic, social and educational needs.
The speech therapist’s task is to find alternative ways for people with such difficulties to communicate functionally.
Verbal language may not be the means of communication available to that person at the time and may never be.
For other people, communication may be successful in a specific situation or with very familiar people such as their mother, father, siblings, but they may be unable to make themselves understood in other situations or with other people. less familiar people.
This can be frustrating for them as their current means of communication may not allow them to meet their basic, social, emotional and educational needs.
A speech-language pathologist may find that the person needs an alternate means of communication.
ABA is used by people who have congenital (present from birth), developmental (children have difficulty learning and acquiring language), or acquired (post-developmental) difficulties, and which are usually the result of things such as traumatic brain injury or neurological condition).
Benefits of AAC?
The goal of AAC is functional communication.
Functional communication refers to the means by which an individual communicates their wants and needs and socializes with others in a spontaneous and independent manner.
ABA has many benefits for the individual and their family. Appropriate ACC intervention helps promote language development and facilitates speech development for the individual using it.
The AAC establishes a means of representing language and a means of social interaction and communication. It also improves educational opportunities for people with Speech, Language and Communication (SLCN) needs.
It is important that AAC users are motivated to communicate and accept other methods of communication.
Speech-language pathologists work with other professionals to support people with AAC. The people in the lives of people using AACs are in a better position to help them communicate.
Writer is Speech Language Pathologist / Clinical Tutor, University of Ghana / Korle bu Teaching Hospital
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