Use of aided language stimulation to improve syntactic performance during a weeklong intervention program

Abstract

This pilot study assessed the performance of nine children, aged 4;8 – 14;5, who used augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems before and after a weeklong aided language stimulation intervention program. Pre/post test data were analyzed to evaluate the participants' syntactic complexity when using (a) a manual communication board and (b) a dynamic display speech generating device (DD-SGD). Results indicate that most participants improved their syntactic performance and that these gains were more pronounced when the participants used a manual communication board as compared with a DD-SGD. There was considerable individual variation in performance.

Keywords:

• Intervention
• Aided language stimulation
• Outcome study
• Manual board
• Dynamic display device

Notes

1 The DynaVox and DynaMyte are manufactured by DynaVox Technologies, LLC, 2100 Wharton Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.

2 The Pathfinder and Vanguard are manufactured by the Prentke Romich Company, 1022 Heyl Road, Wooster, OH 44691.

3 The E-Talk is manufactured by the Great Talking Box Company, 2245 Fortune Drive, Suite A, San Jose, CA 95131.