Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC)

About AAC

Augmentative and Alternative Communication is a range of strategies and tools to help people to communicate. These may be letter or picture boards or sophisticated computer-based systems. AAC helps someone to communicate as effectively as possible, in as many situations as possible.

Some common types of AAC are:

signing, for example Makaton
symbol-based AAC
letter and word based AAC

There are paper-based and electronic versions of symbol based and letter and word based AAC. Speech and Language Therapy would typically recommend starting with paper-based AAC.

Paper based AAC:

is flexible and can be used in many different contexts. It can be tailored completely to your child and their interest
does not need batteries or power
can support a child’s understanding
scaffolds language development

What you might notice if your child may benefit from AAC

Your child might:

be non-speaking or is beginning to develop spoken language
be difficult to understand
find it difficult to structure spoken language
have a preference for communicating through pictures or symbols
not yet be able to rely on their spoken language, all or some of the time

What we can offer

Advice service

You can speak to one of our Speech and Language Therapists via our advice service. We can make suggestions about what might help and answer any questions you might have.

Our advice service is open every Thursday 9.30am to 12.30pm.
Tel: 01228 608 177
Email: CumbriaCommmunicates@ncic.nhs.uk

Advice and support sessions

We run an online Advice and Support Sessions for parents and carers.

To book a place email: SLTCumbriaTraining@ncic.nhs.uk

If you need to make a Request for Support

Anyone, including parents and carers, can request support from Speech and Language Therapy. You can do this via our Request for Support Form.

The support we offer is always tailored to the needs of your child. Some children benefit from individualised support, others benefit from support in their environment. Speech and Language Therapy support children who are stammering where there is an impact on their:

making friends
learning
joining in at home and at school
making choices and responding to change

Speech and Language Therapy support children when they have a communication need, which is having an impact on them. Speech and Language Therapy might suggest AAC as an option to support this need. If a young person is already using AAC and it’s no longer working for them then a specific Request for Support around AAC might be made.

Speech and Language Therapy usually would recommended introducing paper-based AAC in the first instance. There are no pre-requisites for this. A Speech and Language Therapist will observe and assess a child’s communication, and preferences around it, and make suggestions around suitable AAC options.

Support to establish this might include:

a demonstration of how to use AAC
coaching of how to use AAC in different situations
trouble-shooting discussions
conversations around how to extend communication through AAC

If a child is effectively using paper-based AAC and it is no longer meeting their requirements Speech and Language Therapy might suggest exploring electronic AAC. Your local Speech and Language Therapist may liaise with specialist AAC centres.

There are different sources of funding available for AAC devices. Your local Speech and Language Therapist can support you to navigate options and funding criteria.

We discharge at a point when:

you and your child are confident using AAC
your child indicates they don’t think they need help at the moment
it is agreed that the goals and strategies are appropriate for now and the foreseeable future

Speech and Language - information for families