Symbol Systems & Visual Supports Flashcards
7 cards from real AAC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Symbol Systems & Visual Supports flashcards as text
Which symbol system uses a combination of pictographic, ideographic, and arbitrary symbols organized by semantic categories?
Answer: Blissymbolics
Blissymbolics uses a combination of pictographic, ideographic, and arbitrary symbols that can be combined to create new meanings, organized into semantic categories.
A child with cortical visual impairment (CVI) struggles to recognize PCS symbols. Which adaptation is MOST appropriate?
Answer: Use high-contrast symbols on black backgrounds with reduced visual complexity
Children with CVI benefit from high-contrast symbols on dark backgrounds with minimal visual clutter to support visual processing.
What is the primary advantage of aided language stimulation when introducing a new symbol system?
Answer: The communication partner models symbol use during natural interactions, providing input without requiring output
Aided language stimulation provides naturalistic modeling by partners who point to symbols while speaking, building symbol comprehension without demanding production.
Which characteristic distinguishes iconic symbols from opaque symbols in AAC?
Answer: Iconic symbols visually resemble their referents, making them easier to learn without instruction
Iconic symbols have a visual resemblance to what they represent, which supports faster learning, especially for individuals with cognitive disabilities.
A team is designing a visual schedule for a student with ASD. Which format is MOST likely to promote independence?
Answer: A left-to-right or top-to-bottom sequence of photos or symbols the student can manipulate by moving completed items
Manipulable visual schedules (e.g., moving symbols to a 'done' pocket) provide active engagement and clear completion cues that support independence.
In Minspeak (semantic compaction), how does a single icon function?
Answer: A single icon can represent multiple concepts depending on its sequence with other icons
In Minspeak, icons are multi-meaning and acquire specific meanings based on their sequential combination with other icons, allowing a small symbol set to encode a large vocabulary.
Which of the following BEST describes a 'core vocabulary' display in an AAC symbol system?
Answer: A display featuring high-frequency, grammatically diverse words used across many contexts
Core vocabulary displays feature high-frequency words (verbs, pronouns, prepositions, adjectives) that are used across diverse contexts and form the basis of flexible communication.