AAC Awareness Month: Assumption Check
October is International AAC Awareness Month. AAC is Augmentative and Alternative Communication. While some people think that AAC is synonymous with speech-generating tablets, it is a literal term: it covers any communication method that is an alternative to speaking with the mouth. There are a lot of assumptions made about people who utilise AAC that aren’t (always, or entirely) accurate. Here are a handful…
If You Can Communicate You Don’t Need AAC
Some people believe that AAC is for people who can’t communicate. That a child with a speech sound delay who can communicate their basic needs doesn’t need to communicate greater details. That a profoundly deaf child who has learned to speak and lipread shouldn’t be taught to sign.
AAC is not a last resort, and is frequently utilised to allow people to communicate more efficiently, accurately, and/or easily. A child with cerebral palsy, for example, who can speak enough to say “Drink” when they are thirsty deserves to be able to communicate what it is they want to drink if this can be achieved using AAC, and specify if they’d like ice, or a straw, or a particular cup. Just like a kid who can speak gets to!
AAC Users Have Learning Disabilities
The use of AAC is not indicative of a learning disability. Like people who do communicate traditionally, some AAC users having learning disaiblities and some don’t. When speaking, assigning work, or doing anything else that requires you to make assumptions of someone’s abilities, the only thing you can safely assume about an AAC user is that they use AAC.
Assume competence, and be prepared to tailor your approach to the individual’s needs as they become apparent.
If You Can’t Speak, you can’t understand
Similarly, it is important to remember that the majority of AAC users have normal hearing abilities. There are many reasons for people using AAC. Even those that relate to difficulties in producing clear speech are frequently unrelated to being Deaf, having hearing differences, or having an auditory processing disorder. Some reasons for using AAC, not related to speech differences, include anxiety, spoons, and brain injury.
Not all people who don’t speak can’t hear.
And on that note, not all people who don’t speak can’t speak.
People Use One Means of Communication
Someone who uses a particular means of AAC is not restricted to using that method for all communication. Some people alternate between the traditional method of speaking and using a speech-generating tablet. Others might use sign language sometimes. Some people might never use speech, but use a variety of AACs including a tablet, sign language, and writing.
Most people use more than one method of communication. Just because someone uses AAC on a more regular basis doesn’t change this.
Hindered Speech Development
There was a time when medical experts believed that provided a child with a means of communication other than speech would delay or reduce their ability to speak. It is the reason many Deaf kids who are now adults were actively not taught to sign; so they would put more effort into lip reading and speaking.
These days research demonstrates that utilising AAC does not hinder speech development. Some studies indicate it may even increase the rate of speech development, where speech development is a possibility, as the act of using the AAC develops language neural pathways, vocabulary, and skills in conversation and communication.
Access to AAC means you can communicate fluently
That said, a common misconception is that a person who is known to be intelligent is going to be able to communicate their thoughts and feelings effectively simply by being given access to AAC.
Much like a native Italian speaker wouldn’t be expected to communicate well in Berlin because someone handed them a German dictionary, communication using AAC takes time, learning, practice, and familiarity before a person is able to communicate to the best of their ability.
Access to AAC Makes People Want to Chat
…and even then, they might not want to say much! Like anyone who doesn’t use an AAC, just because someone has the means to communicate it doesn’t mean they want to all the time. Or with all the people. AAC users also have quiet days, can be introverted, and may have people they do or don’t enjoy chatting with.
While it’s a lovely approach towards kids who use AAC to assume competence, chat, and encourage them to communicate, take the hint the same way you would from a speaking child if they don’t engage.
If You’ve Met One AAC User…
What the point above, and many others in this post, illustrates is that what AAC users have in common is that they utilise alternative means of communication, and that they’re humans. That’s possibly the only point of commonality that’s assured.
As such, making assumptions is a bad idea.
And projecting what you know about one AAC user onto another is a bad move. Use it to inform your curiosity, sure, but don’t expect it to be consistent.
For example, some people who use alternative communication really appreciate people attempting to finish their sentences when the ending seems predictable, as it saves them the effort of compiling the rest. However others detest this approach, and feel patronised, interrupted, and controlled.
Some people who use digital speech-producing devices like to compile chunks of text at a time. For example, writing a complete a sentence rather than playing each word as they enter it. In this situation, some AAC users are happy for people to read over their shoulder. Others find this invasive and like for the person they are communicating with to hear what they have to say when they activate the digital speech.
If you’re not sure what someone’s preferences are, just ask!