Who benefits from AAC?

A person may benefit from AAC if their speech (or sign language, or literacy abilities) is not effective to communicate all needs and thoughts, in all contexts, with all partners.

People may be limited in their language expression and understanding early in their life because of a developmental disability, such as autism, cerebral palsy or Down syndrome.  Others may find their communication impacted much later in life due to a traumatic brain injury, accident, stroke, or degenerative disease.

Anyone capable of producing a thought or emotion that is able to react to their environment and possesses at least one reliable movement has the potential to communicate with AAC.

AAC that is electronic based with voice output for messages has proven to increase speech and vocalizations for some people with residual speech.

Everyone benefits from AAC… The user because they can share what’s on their mind, and everyone else because they can be understood and understand the person.  Both parties experience less frustration and are happier interacting.