Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and Augmentative and Alternative Communication: Analysis of Survey Data on Uptake of Aided AAC, and Loneliness Experiences

Abstract

This study describes uptake of augmentative and alternative communication systems by adults with intellectual disabilities; their ability to self-report at interview; differences in self-reported loneliness experiences by communication mode; and predictors of loneliness. We analyzed National Core Indicators data from 26 US states involving over 13,000 service users grouped by primary means of expression: natural speech, gestures/body language, manual signs, or communication aid/device (aided AAC). Uptake of aided AAC was low; only 0.8% of participants used aided AAC as their primary means of expression. Valid interview responding was higher in turn for participants communicating with natural speech, aided AAC, and other modes. Almost half the participants were lonely, but loneliness did not differ by communication mode used; social contact and social climate variables predicted loneliness. Individuals who used aided AAC communicated more effectively than users of other non-speech modes, supporting more widespread use of aided AAC. Loneliness was prevalent but aided AAC users were not lonelier. Interventions to reduce loneliness are discussed.

Correlates of Everyday Choice and Support-Related Choice for 8,892 Randomly Sampled Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in 19 States

“…Although, clearly, cognitive limitations would be expected to be associated with independent decision making, it would seem very desirable that higher proportions of individuals, especially those with severe and profound levels of ID and communication limitation, were at minimum reported to participate in or have input in the decisions affecting their lives. One factor that may have contributed to the apparent non-involvement in many decisions by individuals with communication limitation was the extremely low rate of availability of augmentative ©AAIDD DOI: 10,1352DOI: 10, /1934 and alternative communication aids to service users (Stancliffe et al,, 2010).…”

Conceptual relations between loneliness and culture

“…Lacking reciprocity is an aspect of loneliness in which meaningful connections are missing [10,12,28,33]. Some describe the reciprocal content of meaningful connections as an interactive collaboration by which meaning is jointly constructed [34]. The need for reciprocity is furthermore underscored by a study among a sample of 63 couples, in whom emotional loneliness was found to be crucial in determining the quality of marital relationships [30 ].…”

Communicative Competence for Individuals who require Augmentative and Alternative Communication: A New Definition for a New Era of Communication?

“…Individuals with complex communication needs may encounter policy and practice barriers that are systemic within society and serve to limit their communication opportunities and therefore their development of communicative competence (Cooper, Balandin, & Trembath, 2009;Stancliffe et al, 2010). Policy barriers result from offi cial laws, standards, or regulations, whereas practice barriers result from conventional procedures within schools, work settings, or society that may not be offi cially documented but are accepted practice (Beukelman & Mirenda, 2013).…”