Offer enough time for the speaker to give the message. Caregivers and communication partners need to give enough time for users to understand what was said, what the child wants to say in response and make the message. Studies have shown that giving a wait time (up to 45 seconds) to people who use AAC, have longer conversations and use more words.
Whatever the person is using for communication, whether it is pictures or a high tech speech-generating device, think of it in the same terms as someone talking to you with their voice. For example:
Respond if you are communicated to.
If using a voice output device, use different volumes to appropriately match your setting.
Acknowledge the communication attempt as best as you can. Sometimes a request may not be fulfilled, but you can respond to the request.
Provide support and help as needed.
Mistakes happen. Work towards fixing the mistakes together.
Just as we teach infants speech by modeling, we should do the same with children that use AAC. Initially, a child is unlikely to start spontaneously using their AAC. Modeling and exploration of new words occurs before functional use. You can help by providing good input and showing them what they can say. Use clear and slow input for best results, and be sure to practice aided language stimulation in your daily routines.
To be a good user, the child needs repetitive practice in each situation to have the best results. Find opportunities for communication with the AAC system throughout the day.
Have the communication system available at all times. This is school time, outdoor playtime, mealtime, in the community, ordering at a restaurant and more. Think of possible hurdles for having communication available at all times. Work with your team to address the hurdles.
Taking the child’s device away is taking the child’s voice away. If the child is using their device inappropriately, problem-solve a better way to interact in that situation. For example, if they are talking loudly in class, teach the child to use a quiet voice instead of taking the device away. If using a speech-generating device, keep it charged so the child’s voice is available at all times.
Keep in mind the positive effects of AAC use can last a lifetime:
