AAC Literacy Development & AAC 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The 'Simple View of Reading' formula (R = D × LC) suggests that reading comprehension requires which two components?
- Decoding and language comprehension (Correct answer)
- Fluency and vocabulary
- Phonemic awareness and print concepts
- Sight words and syntactic knowledge
Correct answer: Decoding and language comprehension
The Simple View of Reading states that reading comprehension equals decoding ability multiplied by language comprehension.
Question 2: An AAC-using child demonstrates strong language comprehension but very weak decoding. According to the Simple View of Reading, this profile is described as:
- Hyperlexia
- Specific reading comprehension deficit
- Dyslexia (Correct answer)
- Mixed reading disability
Correct answer: Dyslexia
Weak decoding with intact language comprehension fits the profile of dyslexia within the Simple View of Reading framework.
Question 3: Which phonological awareness skill is considered the most advanced and directly supports spelling in AAC users?
- Rhyme recognition
- Syllable segmentation
- Phoneme manipulation (Correct answer)
- Onset-rime blending
Correct answer: Phoneme manipulation
Phoneme manipulation—the ability to add, delete, and substitute individual phonemes—is the most advanced phonological awareness skill and closely supports spelling.
Question 4: A practitioner uses 'symbol-supported text' in literacy instruction for an AAC user. What is the primary purpose of this adaptation?
- To replace printed text entirely with graphic symbols
- To scaffold comprehension while maintaining exposure to print (Correct answer)
- To eliminate the need for phonics instruction
- To assess the student's symbol vocabulary
Correct answer: To scaffold comprehension while maintaining exposure to print
Symbol-supported text scaffolds comprehension by pairing symbols with printed words, maintaining the student's engagement with conventional print.
Question 5: Research on literacy outcomes for individuals with complex communication needs shows that:
- Most individuals with CCN cannot achieve functional literacy
- Literacy instruction should be deferred until AAC proficiency is established
- Many individuals with CCN can achieve meaningful literacy skills with appropriate instruction (Correct answer)
- Cognitive ability is the sole predictor of literacy success in AAC users
Correct answer: Many individuals with CCN can achieve meaningful literacy skills with appropriate instruction
Research demonstrates that many individuals with complex communication needs can achieve meaningful literacy with appropriate, systematic instruction.
Question 6: When teaching an AAC user to compose written messages independently, which strategy best develops message formulation skills?
- Having the communication partner write messages for the student to copy
- Practicing sentence-level construction using core vocabulary on the AAC device (Correct answer)
- Focusing exclusively on typing individual letters before composing sentences
- Limiting writing practice to fill-in-the-blank worksheets
Correct answer: Practicing sentence-level construction using core vocabulary on the AAC device
Practicing sentence-level construction using core vocabulary on the AAC device builds authentic, generative writing skills.
Question 7: What does 'aided language stimulation' during literacy activities involve?
- The SLP modeling language using only verbal speech during book reading
- The communication partner pointing to AAC symbols while speaking during shared reading (Correct answer)
- Playing recorded speech output from the SGD during silent reading
- Using audio descriptions instead of text for picture books
Correct answer: The communication partner pointing to AAC symbols while speaking during shared reading
Aided language stimulation involves the partner simultaneously pointing to symbols on the AAC system and speaking, modeling AAC use in context.
AAC Literacy Development & AAC 3
The 'Simple View of Reading' formula (R = D × LC) suggests that reading comprehension requires which two components?