SLP Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC) 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)?
- To replace natural speech entirely in all users
- To supplement or replace natural speech and writing for individuals with complex communication needs (Correct answer)
- To improve articulation accuracy in children with phonological disorders
- To treat stuttering through alternative output modalities
Correct answer: To supplement or replace natural speech and writing for individuals with complex communication needs
AAC is designed to supplement or replace natural speech and/or writing for individuals who have difficulty with these modalities, not to eliminate remaining natural communication abilities.
Question 2: Which category of AAC requires an external device, tool, or material separate from the user's body?
- Unaided AAC
- Aided AAC (Correct answer)
- Natural AAC
- Intrinsic AAC
Correct answer: Aided AAC
Aided AAC requires an external tool or device such as a communication board, PECS cards, or a speech-generating device, as opposed to unaided AAC which relies solely on the body (e.g., gestures, signs).
Question 3: Which of the following is classified as a 'high-tech' AAC system?
- A laminated picture communication board
- An alphabet letter board
- A speech-generating device (SGD) with dynamic display (Correct answer)
- A three-ring binder with PCS symbols
Correct answer: A speech-generating device (SGD) with dynamic display
High-tech AAC systems include electronic speech-generating devices (SGDs) with dynamic displays that produce synthesized or digitized speech output.
Question 4: In AAC, 'core vocabulary' refers to:
- Words specific to a person's unique hobbies and daily routines
- High-frequency words used across multiple contexts by most communicators (Correct answer)
- Medical terminology used in clinical AAC assessments
- Words located at the center of a static communication board
Correct answer: High-frequency words used across multiple contexts by most communicators
Core vocabulary consists of a small set of high-frequency words (e.g., 'want,' 'go,' 'more,' 'stop') used across contexts by most people, making them essential to any AAC system.
Question 5: In AAC assessment, 'feature matching' is the process of:
- Matching a client's diagnosis to a standardized AAC protocol
- Aligning the features of an AAC system with the individual's abilities, needs, and environments (Correct answer)
- Matching graphic symbols to their corresponding spoken words
- Pairing AAC device features to available insurance coverage
Correct answer: Aligning the features of an AAC system with the individual's abilities, needs, and environments
Feature matching involves identifying the specific features of AAC systems (e.g., display type, access method, symbol set) that best align with the individual user's motor, cognitive, sensory, and communication needs.
Question 6: Which access method requires a user to wait while items are sequentially highlighted before making a selection?
- Direct selection
- Eye gaze
- Scanning (Correct answer)
- Partner-directed pointing
Correct answer: Scanning
Scanning involves sequentially highlighting items on a display until the user activates a switch to select the desired item, which is used by individuals with significant motor limitations.
Question 7: Which symbol system is most widely used in AAC systems in the United States?
- Blissymbols
- Rebus symbols
- Picture Communication Symbols (PCS) (Correct answer)
- Widgit Symbols
Correct answer: Picture Communication Symbols (PCS)
Picture Communication Symbols (PCS), developed by Mayer-Johnson, are the most widely used symbol set in AAC in the United States, featured in many low- and high-tech AAC systems.
SLP Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC) 1
What is the primary purpose of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)?