The use of social media by adults with acquired conditions who use AAC: current gaps and considerations in research

Abstract

The global growth and development of social media has had a positive impact on many individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), who use it to communicate and connect with others. Research evidence into the use of social media by adults with acquired conditions who use AAC is limited. These individuals are a heterogeneous population, who can present with a range of linguistic, cognitive and physical needs, some of which progress rapidly, making accessing social media a challenge. These issues warrant research focusing on developing interventions to support the use of social media and the impact of these interventions. For individuals with acquired conditions who have previously used social media and for those who are new to the experience, social media can offer a vital connection to friends, family and health professionals. This paper examines current gaps in knowledge in this area in the field of AAC and proposes potential methodologies for future research. These include combining qualitative and quantitative methodologies (e.g., analysis of online interactions and observational data) that would be useful tools for data collection in an under-researched field.

Keywords:

• Augmentative and alternative communication
• social media
• acquired conditions

Disclosure statement

The author reports no conflicts of interest. The author alone is responsible for the content and writing of this article.

The author thanks Bronwyn Hemsley (Chair of the ISAAC Research Symposium) and the group members of the discussion chaired by the author at the social media research symposium, ISAAC 2016, Toronto: Liya Kalinnikova Magnusson, Ria Bayliss, and Michelle Parker.

Notes

1 Facebook is an online social media platform. Based in Menlo Park, California, United States. Website: https://www.facebook.com/

2 Instagram is an online mobile photo-sharing, video-sharing, and social networking service. Based in Menlo Park, California, United States. Website: https://www.instagram.com/

3 Twitter is an online news and social networking service. Based in San Francisco, California, United States. Website: https://twitter.com/

4 YouTube is an online video-sharing platform. Based in San Bruno, California, United States. Website: https://www.youtube.com/

5 Second Life is an online virtual world. Based in San Francisco, California, United States. Website: http://secondlife.com/

6 iPads are touch-screen tablet computers and the product of Apple Inc., Based in Cupertino, California, United States. Website: http://www.apple.com/uk/ipad/

7 EVA ., ., ., Park is an , , , online virtual world and the product of the EVA Project at City, University of London. Website: http://smcse.city.ac.uk/eva/

8 LinkedIn is a business and employment-orientated social networking service platform. Based in Mountain View, California, United States. Website: https://www.linkedin.com/

9 Emoji is the term used for a digital image that is added to a message in electronic communication in order to express a particular idea or feeling. http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/emoji

10 Skype is an instant messaging computer software program which enables video chat and voice call services, and is the product of Skype Technologies, S.A.R.L. Based in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. Website: https://www.skype.com/en/