AAC for Kids

Does your child have trouble with using their words? Are you looking for other ways to understand what they are trying to say?

Make communicating easy for your child with augmentative and alternative communication.

Make Communication Fun and Easy

When you see your child struggle with language, you may feel hopeless for their future. They may become frustrated or angry with trying to talk. Eventually, they may feel discouraged, thinking that they will be misunderstood.

If you’d like to help your child:

learn to use their AAC device faster

have words at their fingertips

express more complex thoughts overtime

rediscover their love for communicating with others

let your child’s personality shine

… your speech-language pathologist can help. You can start with a quick consultation today to find out what works best for your family.

What is AAC and How Does it Help?

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (or AAC) are communication devices or methods that don’t use speech.

AAC is effective for when someone needs to support their lack of natural speech. Those with with motor and cognitive disabilities for example may need to use AAC.

AAC helps bridge the gap for children that may need a little more help. The right system for your child will help them:

closely substitute the use of natural speech

have options and alternatives to verbal speech

expand their vocabulary

Speech-language pathologists can help them discover what AAC systems works for them. An initial consultation will help start the process.

Who needs AAC?

Augmentative and Alternative Communication may be recommended for children with:

– motor disabilities (cerebral palsy)

– developmental delays

– cognitive or intellectual disability (ASD)

– other disorders that affect speech

Children with these disorders may have an impaired learning experience. As a result, their AAC systems need to be often available and are best fit for their situation. Thankfully, Augmentative and Alternative Communication has a wide variety of systems to find the best one for your child

More Ways to Communicate

Augmentative and alternative communication systems are used in a variety of scenarios. Due to the wide variety, you can find a suitable AAC system for your child, whether they have simple or more complex communication needs.

AAC are often categorized based on the use of materials and electronics. These factors can affect the accessibility of the system, and needs careful consideration.

High-Tech Devices

High-tech AAC devices are those that come first to the mind when people think of AACs. These are electronic devices such as speech-generating devices and electronic PECS boards.

Button presses or head movements may commonly trigger these devices. Digital talking support apps (on phones and iPads) are also part of this group.

No Tech Devices

These devices only need one’s body. Manual sign language, gestures, and facial expressions are part of this group.

If an AAC requires materials or devices to work, the child must always bring them to communicate. Finding the right system that they can use in their daily life (such as in the classroom) is crucial to success.

Your speech-language pathologist (SLP) can help you go through your best options. They will also teach how to use the recommended devices in your child’s day-to-day.

Low-Tech Devices

Low-tech devices are non-electronic, but they do need physical materials. Some examples include object cards, written messages, communication books and boards with symbols.

What AAC devices/methods are right for my child?

Your SLP can guide you in selecting the AAC system that’s most appropriate. There are a few common concerns that may factor into the method of choice including your child’s..

 cognitive level and capacity to learn

 mobility and physical capability

 frustration levels and attention span

 accessibility in various uses (home, school, etc.)

 duration of use (short-term/long-term)

Finding the right AAC system for your child is crucial to the learning process. It’s all the more important to choose a system that they will be interested in using, and are very useful for them.

AAC and Speech Therapy

Understanding your child’s AAC system will be easier with the right guidance. Your speech language pathologist can help you:

teach your child the best ways to use their tools and systems

discover more communication aids that they’ll enjoy using

integrate the device-use in everyday lives

continue your child’s language development

eventually use AAC methods for more complex communication

help your child overcome more severe speech disabilities

Speech-language pathologists can help train your child to use the AAC along with you. They will tell you about the best practices that you can do together to help them learn and adjust.

With consistent practice, they will love using their AAC to express themselves everyday.

Our Services

How NK Speech Therapy Can Help

Speech-language pathology can help your child grow more at ease with using augmentative and alternative communication systems. With our therapists, you’ll learn how to support, augment and appreciate your child’s expressions and thoughts.

AAC Training

Your speech therapist will help you use the most out of your child’s AAC methods and devices.

Speech Therapy with AAC

With online speech therapy, you and your child can integrate AAC with your day-to-day.