In a world where the gift of speech isn’t available, life can be challenging, to be sure, but speech isn't the only way to communicate.
For the nonverbal 2.2-2.9 million North American kids, there are many ways we can encourage communication, primarily through what we call augmentative and alternative communication, or AAC.
As speech therapists and pathologists specializing in helping kids communicate, the team here at Celebrations Speech Group routinely turns to AAC methods and devices that help connect nonverbal kids to the world around them.
To give you an idea, here’s a brief look at how AAC devices can help your child be heard and understood, essentially giving them a voice when theirs isn’t available.
In general, there are two categories of AAC: aided and unaided.
In all likelihood, you and your nonverbal child probably have what you refer to as your secret language. Instead of words, you use gestures, facial expressions, and body language to communicate and this system is a perfect example of unaided AAC.
One of the hurdles with unaided AAC is that, unless you’re using a universally accepted sign language, your secret language won’t work well as your child grows and needs to interact with others outside your intimate circle, who don’t understand your secret language.
This is where aided AAC can play an important role. As the name suggests, with aided AIC, we turn to aids and devices that can facilitate communication between nonverbal people and the rest of the world.
Examples of aided AAC devices include:
This last item on our list — speech-generating devices — is a great example of how technology is giving nonverbal kids a voice.
Most of us carry a communication tool around with us at all times in the form of smartphones, tablets, and laptops, so it makes sense that tech can help with nonverbal kids.
The speech-generating devices that we referenced earlier are a great example of this. About the size of a tablet, these devices use pictograms and letters that kids can touch to generate speech. This allows nonverbal kids to communicate simple and complex thoughts and be heard using the usual channels.
This type of AAC has really helped in a world where sign language isn’t well known. With a speech-generating device, your child can have a voice and express themselves to anyone.
While we use dedicated tech to accomplish this, some apps can turn your smart device into a type of speech-generating device.
At Celebrations Speech Group, we like to use a range of AAC devices to see which ones work best with each child. We often use a combination of aided and unaided AAC techniques that allow your child to communicate in different situations.
If you’d like to explore the exciting world of AAC and how it can help your child to be heard and understood, we invite you to come in and see what it's all about. To get started, we invite you to contact one of our offices in Brentwood, Stockton, or Elk Grove, California, to schedule an appointment.
