AAC Compatible Learning Software
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) software helps people who cannot speak or have limited speech to communicate with others. These digital tools can be installed on tablets, computers, or specialized devices to give a voice to those who might otherwise struggle to express their thoughts. AAC software typically includes symbols, pictures, or text that users can select to form messages. When a user chooses a symbol or types a word, the software can speak it aloud, allowing for real-time conversation with others.
Keywords:
- Augmentative
- Alternative
- Communication
- Symbols
Reasoning Question with Two Choices:
- When AAC software speaks words aloud for a user, is it primarily serving as a replacement for natural speech or as a way to enhance existing abilities? (replacement for natural speech)
Reasoning Question with a Predictable Answer:
- People who cannot speak verbally need special tools to help them communicate their thoughts and __. (Expected completions: needs (65%), feelings (20%), ideas (10%))
Reasoning Question with a Range of Responses:
- A tablet is a device that can run AAC software. What is another device that could run this type of software?
Open-Ended Question:
- How might having access to AAC software change daily life for someone who cannot speak verbally?
Modern AAC systems offer various access methods to accommodate different physical abilities. Some users might touch a screen directly to select symbols, while others with limited motor control might use switches, eye-tracking technology, or head-pointing devices. The software adapts to these different input methods, making communication possible regardless of physical limitations. Vocabulary in AAC systems is typically organized in categories or grids, allowing users to navigate through different topics like food, activities, or feelings to find the words they need.
Keywords:
- Access
- Switches
- Eye-tracking
- Navigation
Reasoning Question with Two Choices:
- Would organizing vocabulary by categories in AAC software be considered a way to complicate communication or to streamline it? (streamline it)
Reasoning Question with a Predictable Answer:
- For users with limited motor control, eye-tracking technology allows them to select items on the screen just by looking at them, without using their hands or __. (Expected completions: arms (70%), fingers (20%), body (5%))
Reasoning Question with a Range of Responses:
- Eye-tracking is one way to control AAC software. What is another way someone might control a computer if they have limited physical movement?
Open-Ended Question:
- How might designers of AAC software balance making systems comprehensive enough for complex communication while keeping them simple enough to navigate quickly?
Personalization is a crucial feature of effective AAC software, as communication needs vary greatly between users. Most systems allow for customization of vocabulary, adding personal photos, and adjusting the interface to match the user’s preferences and abilities. Some advanced software can even learn from the user’s patterns, suggesting frequently used phrases or adapting to their communication style over time. This personalization helps make communication more efficient and natural, allowing users to express their unique personalities.
Keywords:
- Personalization
- Customization
- Interface
- Adaptation
Reasoning Question with Two Choices:
- When AAC software suggests frequently used phrases based on past selections, is it primarily functioning as a memory tool or as a prediction system? (prediction system)
Reasoning Question with a Predictable Answer:
- Adding personal photos and customizing vocabulary in AAC software helps users express their individual preferences and __. (Expected completions: personalities (75%), needs (15%), interests (5%))
Reasoning Question with a Range of Responses:
- Personalization is an important feature of AAC software. What is another type of technology that benefits from personalization features?
Open-Ended Question:
- How might an AAC system that learns and adapts to a user’s communication patterns change over the course of several years of use?
Visual scene displays represent an innovative approach in AAC software design, especially beneficial for younger users or those new to AAC. Instead of isolated symbols arranged in grids, visual scenes show contextual images of familiar activities or locations with hotspots that trigger related vocabulary. For example, a playground scene might have interactive areas for swings, slides, and friends, allowing natural communication about that environment. This approach helps users understand the connection between symbols and real-life situations, making communication more intuitive and contextually relevant.
Keywords:
- Visual
- Scenes
- Hotspots
- Contextual
Reasoning Question with Two Choices:
- Do visual scene displays in AAC software primarily aim to make communication more abstract or more concrete? (more concrete)
Reasoning Question with a Predictable Answer:
- Using images of familiar places like playgrounds or classrooms in AAC software helps users connect symbols to real-life situations they encounter in their daily __. (Expected completions: lives (80%), routines (10%), activities (5%))
Reasoning Question with a Range of Responses:
- A playground is one example of a visual scene that might be used in AAC software. What is another location that would make a useful visual scene for communication?
Open-Ended Question:
- How might visual scene displays in AAC software be designed differently for a five-year-old compared to a teenager?
Text-to-speech technology forms the voice output component of most AAC systems, converting typed or selected text into spoken words. Modern systems offer a range of synthetic voices with different ages, genders, and accents, allowing users to choose a voice that feels representative of their identity. Some AAC software even permits recording of messages in a family member’s voice or creating a personalized synthetic voice based on the user’s own speech samples if they had speech before losing it. This voice personalization helps preserve the user’s sense of identity in communication.
Keywords:
- Text-to-speech
- Synthetic
- Voice
- Identity
Reasoning Question with Two Choices:
- When an AAC user selects a voice that matches their age and gender, are they primarily concerned with technical functionality or personal representation? (personal representation)
Reasoning Question with a Predictable Answer:
- Having multiple voice options in AAC software allows users to select one that matches their age, gender, and personal __. (Expected completions: identity (65%), preference (20%), characteristics (10%))
Reasoning Question with a Range of Responses:
- Text-to-speech is a technology that converts written words to spoken output. What is another technology that transforms one form of communication into another?
Open-Ended Question:
- How might using a personalized synthetic voice versus a standard computer voice affect how others perceive and interact with an AAC user?
Language development support is increasingly integrated into AAC software designed for children. These systems often include features that model language expansion, suggesting ways to build from single words to phrases and sentences as skills develop. Some programs incorporate literacy activities, helping users connect symbols to written words and supporting reading development alongside communication skills. Research shows that well-designed AAC systems not only provide immediate communication support but can also facilitate language learning and cognitive development over time.
Keywords:
- Language
- Expansion
- Literacy
- Development
Reasoning Question with Two Choices:
- When AAC software suggests ways to expand from single words to phrases, is it primarily functioning as a communication tool or as a teaching tool? (teaching tool)
Reasoning Question with a Predictable Answer:
- AAC software that connects symbols with written words helps users develop both communication skills and reading __. (Expected completions: abilities (70%), skills (20%), comprehension (5%))
Reasoning Question with a Range of Responses:
- Reading is one literacy skill that AAC software might support. What is another literacy skill that would be important to develop?
Open-Ended Question:
- How might AAC software be designed differently to support language development in a three-year-old compared to a ten-year-old?
Social interaction features are becoming more common in modern AAC applications, recognizing that communication is inherently social. Some systems include conversation starters, jokes, or age-appropriate phrases for different social situations like greeting friends or ordering at restaurants. More advanced software might offer social stories or scripts that guide users through common interactions, reducing anxiety and building confidence in social settings. These features help AAC users not just communicate basic needs but participate fully in the social fabric of their communities.
Keywords:
- Social
- Interaction
- Scripts
- Participation
Reasoning Question with Two Choices:
- When AAC software includes pre-programmed conversation starters, is it primarily addressing functional communication needs or social connection needs? (social connection needs)
Reasoning Question with a Predictable Answer:
- Having phrases for different situations like ordering food or greeting friends helps AAC users feel more confident in social __. (Expected completions: situations (75%), interactions (15%), settings (5%))
Reasoning Question with a Range of Responses:
- Ordering at a restaurant is one social situation where AAC software might provide helpful phrases. What is another social situation where having prepared phrases would be useful?
Open-Ended Question:
- How might the social interaction features in AAC software need to change as a user transitions from childhood to adolescence?
Connectivity with other devices and platforms extends the functionality of modern AAC software. Many systems can integrate with smartphones to send text messages, make phone calls, or post to social media directly through the AAC interface. Some applications connect to smart home technology, allowing users to control lights, temperature, or entertainment systems using the same communication system they use for interpersonal interaction. This integration reduces the need for multiple devices and gives AAC users greater independence in managing both communication and their environment.
Keywords:
- Connectivity
- Integration
- Smart home
- Independence
Reasoning Question with Two Choices:
- When AAC software connects to smart home devices, is it primarily expanding communication options or environmental control capabilities? (environmental control capabilities)
Reasoning Question with a Predictable Answer:
- AAC software that connects with smartphones allows users to send messages and make calls without switching to another __. (Expected completions: device (80%), application (10%), system (5%))
Reasoning Question with a Range of Responses:
- Controlling lights is one way AAC users might use smart home technology. What is another aspect of the home environment that could be controlled through connected technology?
Open-Ended Question:
- How might the increasing connectivity between AAC systems and other technologies change the daily experiences of someone who relies on AAC?
Research and development in AAC software continues to advance with emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning. These technologies can analyze patterns in a user’s communication to predict words and phrases, significantly increasing communication speed and reducing the effort required. Some experimental systems are exploring brain-computer interfaces that might eventually allow direct thought-to-speech conversion for those with severe physical limitations. While these cutting-edge approaches are still developing, they represent the exciting future of AAC technology and its potential to further break down communication barriers.
Keywords:
- Artificial intelligence
- Machine learning
- Brain-computer
- Prediction
Reasoning Question with Two Choices:
- When AI predicts words based on a user’s past communication patterns, is it primarily saving physical effort or cognitive effort? (physical effort)
Reasoning Question with a Predictable Answer:
- Advanced technologies like brain-computer interfaces could potentially allow people to communicate directly through their thoughts without physical __. (Expected completions: movement (75%), effort (15%), actions (5%))
Reasoning Question with a Range of Responses:
- Artificial intelligence is one emerging technology being used in AAC software. What is another new technology that might improve communication tools in the future?
Open-Ended Question:
- How might AAC systems that use brain-computer interfaces change our understanding of what it means to communicate with others?
Funding and access remain significant challenges in the AAC field despite technological advances. High-quality AAC software and devices can be expensive, and insurance coverage varies widely across different healthcare systems and regions. Schools and therapy centers often have limited resources to provide the latest AAC technology to all who need it. Advocacy organizations work to increase awareness and improve funding policies, while some developers create free or low-cost AAC applications to increase accessibility. Ensuring that everyone who needs AAC has access to appropriate tools remains a crucial goal for the field.
Keywords:
- Funding
- Access
- Insurance
- Advocacy
Reasoning Question with Two Choices:
- When advocacy organizations work to improve AAC funding policies, are they primarily focused on technological development or social justice? (social justice)
Reasoning Question with a Predictable Answer:
- The high cost of specialized AAC devices can create barriers for families without adequate insurance or financial __. (Expected completions: resources (80%), support (10%), means (5%))
Reasoning Question with a Range of Responses:
- Insurance is one potential source of funding for AAC technology. What is another way that people might obtain funding for needed communication technology?
Open-Ended Question:
- How might society change if all communication technologies were universally available to everyone who needed them, regardless of cost?
SOURCES:
- Beukelman, D. R., & Mirenda, P. (2013). Augmentative and Alternative Communication: Supporting Children and Adults with Complex Communication Needs (4th ed.). Paul H. Brookes Publishing. https://products.brookespublishing.com/**Augmentative**-and-**Alternative**-**Communication**-P758.aspx
- Light, J., & McNaughton, D. (2014). Communicative Competence for Individuals who require Augmentative and Alternative Communication: A New Definition for a New Era of Communication? Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 30(1), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.3109/07434618.2014.885080
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2022). Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/aac/
- AssistiveWare. (2023). Proloquo2Go – Symbol-based AAC for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. https://www.assistiveware.com/products/proloquo2go
- Tobii Dynavox. (2023). Communication Software Solutions. https://us.tobiidynavox.com/pages/software