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Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology pp 1–5Cite as

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

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Definition

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is a set of procedures and processes by which an individual’s communication skills can be maximized for functional and effective communication. AAC approaches supplement or replace natural speech with aided options that incorporate the use of some type of device ranging from simple picture communication systems to complex speech generating devices and/or unaided options that involve only the individual’s body, such as sign language. AAC may be used to augment understanding as well as written or oral expression. A “multimodal” approach that includes both devices and unaided strategies may be most effective in meeting the individual’s communication needs.

Historical Background

Prior to about 1970, AAC was not a widely accepted intervention technique and could even be described as contraindicated in the professional literature. At that time, it was thought that the act of vocal production was a critical building block of human...

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References and Reading

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs, Springfield, IL, USA

    Amy S. Goldman MS, CCC-Speech

Authors
  1. Amy S. Goldman MS, CCC-Speech
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Amy S. Goldman MS, CCC-Speech .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Richmond, Virgin Islands, USA

    Jeffrey Kreutzer

  2. Kessler Foundation , West Orange, New Jersey, USA

    John DeLuca

  3. Suite 200 , Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, USA

    Bruce Caplan

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Goldman, A.S. (2018). Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). In: Kreutzer, J., DeLuca, J., Caplan, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56782-2_1518-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56782-2_1518-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-56782-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-56782-2

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