This document provides an overview of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). It discusses that communication requires over 150,000 neuromuscular events per second when speaking. People average 140-206 words per minute in communication, while AAC users average 12-50 words per minute. AAC can be used as an addition to speech or as another way of communicating. AAC is used by those with congenital disabilities, acquired brain injuries, or degenerative disorders to teach, rehabilitate, or preserve communication skills. The aim of AAC is to build conversations rather than just count words. Sample AAC assistive technologies are shown, and the benefits of static versus dynamic technologies are discussed. Videos from AAC users explain the

1. David
Banes and
E.A. Draffan
AAC Introductory
Overview

2. 2
Communication
• On average we speak at 10 sounds per
second,
• we need 100 muscle groups for each sound,
• each muscle group requires 15 pieces of
information from the brain to be in the right
position and tone to make 1 sound.
• 150,000 neuromuscular events per second
when we talk. (Darley, 1974)

3. 3
Expression
• People average 140-206 words
per minute
• Communication aid user - 12-
50 words per minute
• “An AAC technique does not
result in instant
communication any more than
providing a piano results in an
instant musician.” (Beukleman
and Garrett, 1988)

4. 4
Augmentative and Alternative
Communication (AAC)
• An ‘add on’ to speech and language or
• Another way of communicating

5. 5
Ellen using AAC Assistive Technology
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAdEOXD9Tvk

6. 6
Who uses AAC?
• AAC may be used if someone has
– a congenital disability (born with communication
difficulties and/or cognitive impairments) – teaching
skills, building generative language
– acquired brain damage (e.g. head injury) - rehabilitate
– degenerative disorder(e.g. Motor Neuron Disease or
ALS) - preserve
This affects the type and way AAC is used

7. 7
The Aim of AAC
• Building conversations rather than just
counting words
– Greetings, agreement/disagreement, questions,
giving information, expressing ability/inability,
making suggestions…
– Core and fringe vocabularies
– Modelling language at all times

8. 8
Practising Modelling with Core Words
https://youtu.be/QmuBaL-xWfw

9. 9
The AAC journey
• Functional language – needs and wants
• Meaningful language – understanding and
using words
• Creating language - grammar, changing word
shapes e.g. plurals and placement depending
on context
• Sounds of language – reading and writing

10. 10
Sample AAC Assistive Technologies (AT)
• Thanks to Liberator.co.uk

11. 11
Static compared to Dynamic AAC Assistive
Technologies
Pros
• Fixed in a matrix
• Available at all times
• Easier to learn positions
of symbols
• Easy to work between
computer and paper
based systems.
• Can be used to make up a
series of phrases.
Cons
• Same symbols may be used
in different situations or
combined.
• Overlays have to be
changed if alternatives
required
• Large vocabularies need
larger screens and symbols
become harder to target.

12. 12
AAC users explain the benefits of their AT
http://youtu.be/_1QIhWa_4_A

13. From the Global Symbols Team
https://globalsymbols.com
David’s YouTube video “3
Minute thoughts 3 - What is
AAC ?”
Thank you