Responsiveness of a parent-reported outcome measure to evaluate AAC interventions for children and youth with complex communication needs

Abstract

Evaluation of the effectiveness of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) interventions requires reliable measures that are responsive to change. The aim of this study was to explore the potential of the Family Impact of Assistive Technology Scale for AAC (FIATS-AAC) to detect functional change in children and youth with AAC needs, aged 3–17 years, and their families, 6 and 12 weeks after receiving a graphic-based, speech-generating device (SGD). Parents whose children were awaiting a SGD as part of their regular AAC service participated in the study. In all, 45 parents completed the FIATS-AAC during each of three phone interviews: at the time of device delivery, and then 6 weeks and 12 weeks after receiving the device. Children and youth were aged 3–16 years (M = 7.8, SD = 3.3) and were mostly context-dependent communicators. Paired t-tests indicated statistically significant gains in functioning from baseline to both 6 and 12 weeks after receiving the AAC device. Effect sizes were 0.41 and 0.38, respectively. This study provides initial support for the ability of the FIATS-AAC to detect functional changes in children and youth and their families after receiving a graphic-based SGD.

Keywords:

• Augmentative and alternative communication
• outcome assessment (healthcare)
• aided communication
• social environment
• family-centred service

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (129916), Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Thames Valley Children Centre, and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. We are thankful for the participation of parents and AAC clinicians at Holland Bloorview and Thames Valley Children’s Centre who took part in our research study. We appreciated the involvement of other research team members who supported the project—Anna Oh, Danielle D’Alessandro, Madhu Pinto, Nicole Etherington, and Michael Hillmer.