Why use AAC?
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Some people, both children and adults, find communication difficult because they have little or no clear speech. There are many reasons why this might be the case: for example, as a result of cerebral palsy, stroke, head injury, motor neurone disease or learning disability.
The idea behind AAC is to use the person's abilities, whatever they are, to compensate for their difficulties and to make communication as quick, simple and effective as possible when speech alone does not work.
Although we all use aspects of AAC from time to time (e.g. waving goodbye instead of saying it, pointing to a picture or gesturing to make yourself understood in a foreign country) some people rely on AAC all of the time.
Helping people to communicate improves their quality of life. It improves their opportunities, education, social life, friendships and independence.
See also:
- What does AAC include?
- What is the best system?
- AAC and speech development
- Time needed to learn AAC
- Having a conversation
- Vocabulary
- Access