Tools, Devices & Communication Systems Flashcards

In AAC, what is a 'communication passport'?

Answer: A personalized document summarizing an AAC user's communication strategies, preferences, and device use for unfamiliar partners

A communication passport is a personalized, user-centered document that describes how someone communicates, their AAC system, and what support partners should provide.

Which consideration is MOST important when programming vocabulary for an AAC device for a bilingual user?

Answer: Providing vocabulary in both languages used and supporting code-switching between them

AAC systems for bilingual users should include vocabulary in all languages the person uses and support natural code-switching to reflect the user's authentic communication patterns.

What is 'pre-stored message' or 'phrase banking' in high-tech AAC devices?

Answer: Pre-programmed complete phrases or sentences that the user can retrieve with a single or few selections

Phrase banking stores complete, commonly used messages that can be retrieved quickly with minimal selections, increasing communication rate for frequently needed utterances.

A 'PECS' (Picture Exchange Communication System) differs from most high-tech AAC systems in that it:

Answer: Requires the user to physically hand a picture to a communication partner rather than pressing a device

PECS is a low-tech system where the user physically exchanges a picture card with a partner, which is a distinctive interaction feature not found in electronic AAC devices.

What does 'vocabulary organization by semantic-syntactic category' mean in AAC device programming?

Answer: Grouping vocabulary by both meaning category (people, places) and word class (verbs, nouns) to support language development

Semantic-syntactic organization groups words by both their meaning category and grammatical class, supporting both retrieval efficiency and language learning.

Which of the following AAC devices would be MOST appropriate for a user who needs to communicate in loud environments and cannot rely on voice output alone?

Answer: A device with visual display output (text or symbols) supplemented by printed backup boards

In loud environments, visual output (symbol or text displays) and printed backup boards ensure communication can occur even when voice output is inaudible.

The 'light tech' or 'mid-tech' category of AAC devices is characterized by:

Answer: Battery-operated devices with fixed recorded messages but no dynamic screen or programming software

Mid-tech (light-tech) AAC devices are battery-operated, have fixed displays with pre-recorded digitized speech, but lack dynamic screens or complex programming capabilities.