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Digital Communication and Social Media for People with Communicative and Cognitive Disabilities
Published in Christopher M. Hayre, Dave J. Muller, Marcia J. Scherer, Everyday Technologies in Healthcare, 2019
Margret Buchholz, Ulrika Ferm, Kristina Holmgren
People who have a restricted ability to communicate can use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC; i.e. methods to compensate for restrictions in their ability to produce and/or comprehend spoken and written communication). An AAC system involves assistive technology that is adjusted to the individual’s communication needs (Beukelman and Mirenda, 2013). People who have difficulties communicating may also have cognitive problems and difficulties reading and writing. For them, AAC can include graphic symbols and text-to-speech for assisted reading (Beukelman and Mirenda, 2013; Light and McNaughton, 2012). Assistive technology means products, environmental modifications, services and processes that enable occupation and participation for people with disabilities (Cook and Polgar, 2015). This includes mainstream, off-the shelf technology and specialised devices. Assistive technology can, to some extent, connect to and be used for remote communication. Remote communication to a large degree depends on access to mainstream technology and services. Having access to mainstream technology and services is, therefore, vital for communication and, as such, should be deemed a human right (McEwin and Santow, 2018).
AAC in the 21st century
Published in Alex Mihailidis, Roger Smith, Rehabilitation Engineering, 2023
H. Shane, J. Costello, J. Seale, K. Fulcher-Rood, K. Caves, J. Buxton, E. Rose, R. McCarthy, J. Higginbotham
Wikipedia (2017) defines augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) as follows:the communication methods used to supplement or replace speech or writing for those with impairments in the production or comprehension of spoken or written language. AAC is used by individuals across a wide range of significant speech, language and motoric impairments and across the lifespan.
Information Technology for Communication and Cognitive Support
Published in Julie A. Jacko, The Human–Computer Interaction Handbook, 2012
Alan F. Newell, Alex Carmichael, Peter Gregor, Norman Alm, Annalu Waller, Vicki L. Hanson, Graham Pullin, Jesse Hoey
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) are systems which facilitate communication by nonspeaking people. These normally use speech synthesis technology to speak text which is inputted by the user. For severely physically impaired nonspeaking people, even with current speech output technology, however, speaking rates of 2–10 wpm are common, whereas unimpaired speech proceeds at 150–200 wpm.
A retrospective chart review of the patient population accessing augmentative & alternative communication at an urban assistive technology center
Published in Assistive Technology, 2023
Allison Bean, Julia Zezinka, Carmen DiGiovine, Amy Miller Sonntag, Megan Case
Assistive technology includes equipment, devices, apparatuses, services, systems, processes, and environmental modifications that improve the quality of life of individuals with disabilities and older adults (Hersh & Johnson, 2008). Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is a subset of assistive technology (AT) that provides individuals who are unable to rely on natural speech an alternative way to fully access, participate in, and influence their environment (Beukelman & Miranda, 2013). Nearly 97 million individuals worldwide and five million Americans cannot rely on their natural speech to communicate making them candidates for AAC (Beukelman & Light, 2020). Given that communication is an essential human right (UN General Assembly, 1948), it is critical to ensure that everyone who is a candidate for AAC is able to pursue that option if they choose. An important first step in this process is determining who is pursuing AAC intervention services. With technology playing an ever-increasing role in our lives, it is likely that some, though not all, individuals who are pursuing AAC may have previous experience with technology (e.g., smartphones, tablets). It is possible that these individuals may have already developed specific ideas around what features are most important to them.
Evaluating the perspectives of those with severe physical impairments while learning BCI control of a commercial augmentative and alternative communication paradigm
Published in Assistive Technology, 2023
Kevin M. Pitt, Jonathan S. Brumberg
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices seek to provide access to communication for a variety of individuals with heterogenous cognitive-sensory-motor profiles, including those with severe physical impairments due to diagnoses such as cerebral palsy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Communication access can be achieved through a combination of both high (e.g., eye gaze access to electronic device) and low technology (i.e., techniques not requiring an electronic device) access methods (Beukelman & Light, 2020). Due to the large variety and level of cognitive-sensory motor strengths presented by individuals with severe physical impairments who may use AAC, there are some for whom current AAC access methods do not adequately meet their complex communication needs. It is therefore important that research on the development of new AAC access methods is conducted to bridge this gap and help ensure an efficient and effective form of communication for all (Fager et al., 2019).
Conversation turns and speaking roles contributed by Mandarin Chinese dyadic conversations between adults who use speech-generating devices and adults who use natural speech
Published in Assistive Technology, 2022
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is a unique mode of conversation employed to temporarily or permanently compensate for communication disorders, maximize effective and efficient conversation, and actively communicate with family, peers, colleagues, and communities (American Speech-Language -Hearing Association, 2002, 2005; Beukelman & Mirenda, 2013; Calculator, 2007; Tsai, 2013). A speech-generating device (SGD) is an aid to verbally “speak” selected messages through digitized or synthesized speech (Beukelman & Mirenda, 2013; Quist & Lloyd, 1997). In the past two decades, these two studies (i.e., Muller & Soto, 2002; Tsai, 2013) investigated the contributed conversation turns of English speaking adult conversation dyads between adults who use SGDs and adults who use natural speech.