Research summaries for autism therapy: augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)

definition of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC): AAC is a broad term for forms of communication that supplement or enhance speech. Examples of AAC include electronic devices, picture boards, and sign language. AAC may be aided augmentative and alternative communication or unaided augmentative and alternative communication.
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Peer-Mediated Teaching and Augmentative and Alternative Communication for Preschool-Aged Children with Autism, Summarized Nov 24, 2009

Preschool children with autism may learn social communication skills from typically developing peers in an inclusive classroom.

Children at school may be able to teach their classmates with autism many things Children can use naturalistic teaching for social, communication, or academic skills. In this study, 6 typically developing children were taught how to use naturalistic teaching to help 3 classmates with autism learn to communicate; all the children were 3-5 years old. All 3 children with autism showed improvements in communication behaviors in the classroom and in the lunch room. Over time, only 1 of the 3 children continued to use the skills. The authors think that children as young as 3 years old can help teach their peers in inclusive classrooms.

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When “Simon Says” Doesn’t Work: Alternatives to Imitation for Facilitating Early Speech Development, Summarized Jul 20, 2009

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and other methods may help children with autism learn to speak.

Some children with autism do not imitate the sounds of others. For these children, several speech therapy methods may help them learn to speak. AAC is often the first strategy to help them learn enough communication to be able to have some social interactions. There are five other methods that may also help these children: 1) avoid pressuring children to speak, and use puppets and play as encouragement instead; 2) imitate the child and they may start imitating others; 3) use exaggerated sounds and speak slowly; 4) use visual feedback and touch to help teach skills; and 5) add exercises for mouth movements that are specific to speech. Read more...

Comparison of Fixed and Gradual Array when Teaching Sound-Letter Correspondence to Two Children with Autism who Use AAC, Summarized Jul 10, 2009

Children with autism may learn early reading skills faster when they learn to recognize one letter in comparison with others.... The authors said that children who can read may be able to use a wider variety of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tools.... Read more...

A Back Door Approach to Autism and AAC, Summarized Jun 15, 2009

Therapies for motor (movement) skills, language, and reading development may help children with autism learn to communicate.

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) therapies tend to focus on very basic communication skills. There is growing evidence that additional therapies may help improve the effectiveness of AAC. The author believes that motor , language , and reading are important skills in communication. The author suggests that therapists and parents to add these additional interventions to AAC therapies to help children with autism learn to communicate. Read more...

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Synonyms for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) include: AAC, aided AAC, aided augmentative and alternative communication, alternative and augmentative communication, augmentative alternative communication, augmentative and acquired communication, augmentative and alternative communication, augmentative assistive communications device, unaided AAC, unaided augmentative and alternative communication
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