The Effect of Communication Partners' Training on the Functional Use of Augmented Devices in a Residential Home

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of providing a communication partners' training program to caregivers and paraprofessionals in a residential home on the frequency of communicative opportunities provided by the caregivers and paraprofessionals. In addition, its effect on the frequency of the observable communication initiation behavior and the frequency of functional use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) by individuals with verbal expression difficulties was studied. Four groups of participants in a residential home were recruited. A communication partners' training program was administered by a certificated speech-language pathologist. This program was conducted on a weekly basis for 10 weeks. The results of this study showed that the number of communication opportunities provided, the number of the initiating communication behaviors, and the number of functional use of AAC increased across all four groups. It was concluded that communication partners after receiving the training program were able to provide more communication opportunities, and the individuals who use AAC more frequently used his or her AAC device or system to initiate communication. Several potential explanations are discussed.