An AAC Personnel Framework: Adults with Acquired Complex Communication Needs

Abstract

A personnel framework designed to support people who rely on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) because of acquired medical conditions and those who assist them is described. The roles of AAC finders, general practice clinicians, AAC intervention specialists, AAC facilitators, and AAC experts are summarized. These roles are described in detail for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, brainstem impairment, and severe chronic aphasia. The personnel preparation needs for each of these support personnel groups are identified.

Repercussão da comunicação suplementar e/ou alternativa na afasia não fluente

“…Moreover, some authors [21][22][23] assert that when aphasic subjects are unable to produce functional language, which does not meet their communication needs through speech, it is important to use other strategies. One of those strategies is AAC, which includes drawings, structured or unstructured gestures, and writing, as evidenced by our results.…”

“…Some authors 21,22 discuss the use of AAC in aphasia, the correct time to start intervention and what types of aphasia can possibly benefit from this approach. They come to the conclusion that everyone with aphasia can achieve improvements by using AAC, regardless the type and degree of the impairment.…”

Speech Intelligibility and Marital Communication in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

“…The use of AAC by PALS has increased significantly over the past decade and is widely accepted by both PALS and their families (Beukelman, Ball, & Fager, 2008;Fried-Oken et al, 2006;Murphy, 2004). A combination of AAC strategies are typically used and range from lowtechnology strategies (e.g., topic and alphabet cues, gestures, sign language, facial expressions, eye gaze) to high-technology strategies, such as sophisticated computer systems with digitized speech (Beukelman et al, 2008;Fried-Oken et al, 2006;Murphy, 2004).…”

Communication Impairment in ALS Patients Assessment and Treatment

“…Whereas AAC specialists are professionals who provide the AAC intervention services (such as assessment and initial instruction), AAC facilitators for PALS tend to be family members who typically provide ongoing support (including instruction of new communication partners and caregivers, programming new messages into the AAC device, maintaining the AAC system, and interacting with the technology manufacturer, if necessary) (Beukelman et al, 2008). In a survey on 68 PALS using AAC technology Ball and co-workers (2005 b ) studied the AAC facilitators: almost all of them were family members, the majority with nontechnical backgrounds.…”