The effectiveness of aided augmented input techniques for persons with developmental disabilities: a systematic review

Abstract

When working with individuals with little or no functional speech, clinicians often recommend that communication partners use the client’s augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device when speaking to the client. This is broadly known as “augmented input” and is thought to enhance the client’s learning of language form and content. The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the effects of augmented input on communication outcomes in persons with developmental disabilities and persons with childhood apraxia of speech who use aided AAC. Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Each included study was reviewed in terms of participant characteristics, terminology used, symbol format, augmented input characteristics, outcomes measured, effectiveness, and study quality. Results indicate that augmented input can improve single-word vocabulary skills and expression of multi-symbol utterances; however, comprehension beyond the single word level has not been explored. Additionally, it is difficult to form conclusions about the effect of augmented input on specific diagnostic populations. Directions for future research are posited.

Keywords:

• Augmentative and alternative communication
• augmented input
• developmental disabilities
• effectiveness
• systematic review

Acknowledgments

The manuscript was completed as part of the requirements for the first author’s doctoral dissertation. The authors thank Jennifer Abramson, Kaytie Dimery, Suzanne Flynn, Emily Laubscher, Amanda O’Brien, Meghan O’Brien, Leila Denna Staiger, and Christina Yu for insights that helped define the topic; Charles W. Haynes for his support with manuscript preparation; and Lisa Liang Philpotts for her assistance with database searches. The authors also acknowledge three anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on an earlier version of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

*Studies included in the systematic review.

†Cited in the Supplemental tables only.