CCC Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The Participation Model for AAC assessment, developed by Beukelman and Mirenda, primarily focuses on:
- Identifying the single most appropriate AAC device for each individual
- Analyzing communication participation patterns of AAC users compared to same-age peers without disabilities (Correct answer)
- Measuring receptive vocabulary size in individuals who use AAC
- Assessing motor skills needed for physical access to AAC devices
Correct answer: Analyzing communication participation patterns of AAC users compared to same-age peers without disabilities
The Participation Model analyzes the participation patterns of peers without disabilities to identify opportunity and access barriers limiting AAC users.
Question 2: Which category of barrier to AAC participation refers to laws, institutional policies, or societal attitudes that restrict an individual's AAC use?
- Access barriers
- Opportunity barriers (Correct answer)
- Knowledge barriers
- Skill barriers
Correct answer: Opportunity barriers
Opportunity barriers are external factors — including policy, practice, knowledge, and attitude barriers — that prevent participation regardless of the individual's abilities.
Question 3: Aided Language Stimulation (ALS) in AAC intervention involves:
- Training caregivers and partners to model language by pointing to AAC symbols during natural interactions (Correct answer)
- Providing neuromuscular electrical stimulation to the speech production muscles
- Using hearing amplification devices to stimulate early language development
- Administering standardized assessments using aided AAC symbols as response options
Correct answer: Training caregivers and partners to model language by pointing to AAC symbols during natural interactions
ALS involves communication partners simultaneously speaking and pointing to symbols on an AAC system to model language use during natural interactions.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes 'fringe vocabulary' in AAC?
- Words that appear most frequently across all communication contexts for most people
- Words that are specific to an individual's unique interests, activities, and personal environments (Correct answer)
- Vocabulary placed at the outer edges or margins of a communication board layout
- Outdated vocabulary items that are no longer appropriate for the current user
Correct answer: Words that are specific to an individual's unique interests, activities, and personal environments
Fringe vocabulary includes words unique to a specific individual's life, such as names, preferred topics, and activity-specific terms, complementing core vocabulary.
Question 5: LAMP (Language Acquisition through Motor Planning) is an AAC approach that emphasizes:
- Using large muscle movements to navigate between AAC display pages
- Building consistent motor patterns for word locations to support automatic language retrieval (Correct answer)
- Pairing language with physical therapy exercises to improve communication
- Teaching parents motor skills for assembling and programming AAC devices
Correct answer: Building consistent motor patterns for word locations to support automatic language retrieval
LAMP applies principles of motor learning, establishing consistent motor patterns for each word location so that retrieval becomes automatic over time.
Question 6: Which access method would be most appropriate for an individual with severe physical limitations who has one reliable, isolated body movement?
- Direct selection using a standard touch screen keyboard
- Single-switch scanning or eye gaze technology (Correct answer)
- Unaided communication using a full manual sign system
- Multi-touch gesture navigation on a tablet device
Correct answer: Single-switch scanning or eye gaze technology
Single-switch scanning and eye gaze technology are designed for individuals with minimal reliable motor control, allowing communication with one movement or gaze.
Question 7: Communication partner training (CPT) in AAC primarily aims to:
- Teach partners to independently operate SGDs on behalf of the AAC user
- Help partners learn strategies to effectively facilitate, respond to, and support AAC use (Correct answer)
- Train partners to make all AAC vocabulary and device decisions for the user
- Enable partners to replace formal speech-language therapy sessions at home
Correct answer: Help partners learn strategies to effectively facilitate, respond to, and support AAC use
CPT teaches significant others strategies to facilitate AAC use, respond to all communication attempts, and provide modeling during natural interactions.
CCC Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) 2
The Participation Model for AAC assessment, developed by Beukelman and Mirenda, primarily focuses on: