AAC: Definition of Augmentative and Alternative Communication - Disability Path

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is a fundamental pillar in the field of disability and communication. It offers innovative and personalized solutions for individuals with limited or no spoken language. By improving access to communication, AAC transforms the daily lives of many people, allowing them to understand their environment, express themselves more freely, and actively participate in society.

Today, thanks to Pictalk, our little brother Pablo can plan his activities, express his needs, or talk about his weekend, which not only facilitates his interactions and social integration but also his independence.

What is Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)?

Definition of AAC

Augmentative and Alternative Communication is a set of methods and tools designed to assist people who face difficulties accessing spoken language. AAC can include various techniques ranging from visual symbols, such as pictograms or signs, to sophisticated technologies like digital applications. These communication systems are essential for improving individuals' quality of life by providing means to communicate.

Basic principles of AAC

The fundamental principles of AAC are based on inclusion and accessibility. The main goal is to provide communication solutions adapted to each user's individual abilities. This includes creating personalized communication boards (such as TLA) and integrating tools that facilitate social interaction. Emphasizing autonomy and active participation allows individuals to better integrate into their family, educational, and professional environments.

Differences between augmentative and alternative communication

It is crucial to understand the distinction between augmentative and alternative communication. Alternative communication offers solutions for people who have difficulties accessing spoken language by providing entirely different means of communication. Conversely, augmentative communication aims to strengthen existing communication abilities by adding supplementary tools, such as visual or auditory aids, to improve the effectiveness of existing speech.

What are the benefits of AAC?

How can AAC improve daily life?

By enabling better understanding of the environment and effective expression of needs, desires, and emotions, AAC helps reduce behavior problems related to lack of communication. The daily lives of individuals with speech impairments are thus improved, as well as those of their surroundings.

Impact of AAC on personal autonomy

Personal autonomy is a direct consequence of effective AAC use. By giving users the means to express their thoughts and needs, AAC promotes independence and self-confidence. Users can make informed decisions, defend their rights, and live more fulfilling lives.

Thanks to AAC, Pablo has gradually overcome his isolation and behavioral challenges. Initially adopting signs and pictograms, then communication and time management boards, he gained personal and social independence. Through ongoing learning and the support of his family and educational environment, he can now, for example, go alone to the bakery to buy bread, talk about his weekend, or manage his schedule.

What tools are used in AAC?

Overview of main AAC tools

AAC tools include a wide range of devices and techniques. These include signs, pictograms, communication boards, speech synthesis software, and mobile applications designed to facilitate interaction. Each tool is selected based on the specific needs of the user for a more personalized and effective approach.

Communication boards like PODD, PECS, TLA

Communication applications like Pictalk AAC

Sign language such as Makaton, LSF

Speech therapists can provide further information and assist in choosing the most suitable method and tool for your needs. Associations such as ISAAC, CAApables, or Handiapason can also provide AAC materials and information.

Use of pictograms in AAC

Pictograms play an essential role in AAC, especially for users with cognitive impairments. These simplified visual symbols enable quick and effective communication, facilitating understanding and expression of complex ideas. Pictogram use is often integrated into communication systems to provide clear and intuitive visual cues.

SCLERA: black and white pictograms with few details

ARASAAC: detailed and colored pictograms

TAWASOL: pictograms specific to Arab culture

MULBERRY: detailed and colored pictograms

Communication with signs and pictograms leads users to simplify and structure messages for efficiency. This allows better understanding of instructions and messages, as well as modeling and structuring thought processes.

Pictograms are a major asset in setting up visual schedules. They help better manage stress related to time management.

Assistive technologies in AAC

Assistive technologies represent a major advancement in AAC. These include portable electronic devices, learning applications, and speech synthesis systems. They expand communication possibilities and adapt AAC tools to technological developments, making communication more accessible and interactive.

Initially, Pablo used signs and a folder containing paper pictograms, which are essential tools of augmentative and alternative communication. As he grew, these supports, very effective in a family and educational context, proved unsuitable for interactions with untrained sign and pictogram users. Therefore, with the goal of future independence, a digital application on a mobile phone seemed more suitable for his adult needs. Thus, Pablo adopted Pictalk communication on a second-hand phone, offering a high-tech interface and facilitating more fluid, effective communication available everywhere and at any time.

How to integrate an AAC system?

Steps to implement an AAC system

Implementing an AAC system begins with an assessment of the user's needs. This includes analyzing existing communication skills and selecting the most appropriate tools. Training users and their environment is also crucial to ensure effective and consistent use of AAC tools.

The acquisition of signs and recognition of pictograms by Pablo required family training and method adoption by everyone beforehand. Then, it was necessary to model to allow Pablo to grasp gestures and pictograms. The adoption and use of an AAC method require ongoing investment from family and educational support to best accompany the user's development and adapt to their needs and abilities.

Personalization of communication methods for each individual

Each individual has unique needs, and customizing communication methods is essential for the success of AAC. This may include adapting interfaces, selecting the most relevant symbols, and adjusting technical parameters to meet personal preferences. Personalization ensures the AAC system remains relevant and useful over time.

To meet Pablo’s constantly evolving needs, we needed a simple-to-use application available anytime, with or without internet. That’s why we created Pictalk in 2020. Pictalk combines images (pictograms and photos), text (each image linked to text), and speech (voice synthesis from the phone). To support autonomy, Pictalk allows sending messages via pictograms. For more customized use, Pictalk is a highly configurable application.

Evaluating the effectiveness of an AAC system

Evaluating an AAC system’s effectiveness is an ongoing process.

We constantly update the content and architecture of Pictalk to best meet the changing needs and abilities of our users, as well as the different contexts in which they use it.

How to use AAC daily?

Strategies for teaching AAC

It is important to emphasize the necessary learning and modeling phase before adopting an AAC method. This phase varies depending on the user's abilities and the involvement of their environment. Do not hesitate to use the person's interests to motivate and stimulate learning; for example, if Pablo loves eating, incorporate this theme into the method.

How can families support AAC use?

Family support is crucial for the success of AAC use.

Any language that does not serve communication will eventually be abandoned because the effort is not rewarded by the success of communication objectives. How can one expect the adoption of a method that does not enable communication with the closest entourage? In cases of intellectual disability, learning often fails because it requires too much energy. The only effort of professionals is not sufficient; the method must be adopted by family and close ones as well.

Stand at Pictalk during the Science Festival in Lyon: AAC, a family story!

Many families are under the illusion of communication because they understand their child. But this is not enough. Their children need to communicate with people who do not know them as intimately, who are unaware of their life context, and who therefore may not understand them well or sufficiently. AAC facilitates speech emergence rather than prevents it. If the goal is to make these people autonomous and capable of self-determination, we must equip them with tools to communicate, understand the surrounding world, and express themselves. This is our duty and their fundamental human right. Our inaction condemns them to dependence and confinement.

Advice for professionals working with AAC

Adopting an AAC method requires daily consistent use to make progress, as well as active involvement of families and professionals.

Unfortunately, most existing tools are difficult to implement within specialized care settings, such as IME, because they are not very adaptable for use by multiple professionals and users.

Because we believe in the importance and necessity of collaborative work, Pictalk facilitates and simplifies AAC use by professionals. Content can be remotely modified thanks to online synchronization, making it easier to manage. Content can be shared among multiple accounts, professionals, or families. Lastly, each user can have their own account and use it outside educational or professional settings.