Augmentative Communication Devices For Autism

The success of assistive communication devices and strategies.

Augmentative communication devices for autism.

Assistive technology can be used to support and enhance communication for people with autism regardless of speech ability. For 50 years voice output or aac devices have been used to help those with developmental and acquired disabilities to communicate successfully. Augmentative communication devices and strategies help us understand that many people with autism have a broad range of feelings interests opinions and keen intellectual capacities says karen kaye beall director of the augmentative communication showroom and demonstration center in silver spring md where people with autism and. Augmentative and alternative communication and autism.

For these children with autism there is another option. These devices are usually prescribed by a speech language pathologist and are a part of augmentative and alternative communication interventions aac. Today augmentative and alternative communication devices are widely used by adults as well as children and can be particularly effective for children who struggle with speech and language communication as a result of autism 2 and down syndrome 3. Augmentative and alternative communication aac is a specific type of assistive technology that can benefit people with autism of all ages by promoting independence expanding communication and increasing social interactions.

If your child has autism spectrum disorder asd and difficulties with language or communication augmentative and alternative communication aac systems can add to his existing ways of communicating including his speech gestures or writing. This can include using pictures gestures sign language visual aids or speech output devices like computers. The term alternative and augmentative communication aac describes any means of communication aside from traditional speech that allows someone to use language. Aac devices offer tremendous promise in helping nonverbal individuals with autism overcome their unique communication barriers.

A variety of assistive communication devices and strategies have proven successful in assisting many children develop methods of communicating and even speech. Augmentative communication and autism spectrum disorder. Why use a voice output communication device. From this point digitized speech permitted novel and more complex utterances to be constructed.