Advancement to higher communicative functions with transition to iPad app – a case report

Abstract

Children with complex communication needs (CCN) develop severe limitation in communication functioning due to restricted access to environment, limited interactions with their communication partners, and few opportunities for communication (Light, 1997). In order to overcome these challenges and to enhance communication abilities, Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) can be introduced in intervention. This single case study reports the improvements in communication skills when the child made a transition from a communication book to an iPad speech generating app. Participant was a 7 year old child with multiple disability and CCN who was undergoing intervention using communication book and transited to an AAC app namely AVAZ. A comparison of pre and post-therapy communicative function was carried out using tool Communication Matrix to understand the improvement. When the child made transition from a communication book to a iPad speech generating AAC app, significant improvement was observed in all communicative functions namely refusal, obtaining, social purpose and for gathering information. After a total of 10 training sessions, the child advanced from level of using concrete symbols to a level of “Language” i.e. using a combination of abstract symbols for communication. This case report indicated that transition to an iPad AAC app had significant benefits on improving communication skills which in turn had positive impact on linguistic and literacy skills. Consequently, an improvement in levels of motivation and confidence was noted. Hence, providing access to the appropriate AAC device/technology in ongoing intervention is the foundation to building effective communication skills.

Implications for rehabilitation

• Importance of ongoing assessments to understand the varying communication demands of AAC user.

• The timely decision of selecting appropriate AAC devices.

• Transition to appropriate AAC device to address higher communicative functions.

• Documenting evidence-based practices using AAC in a developing country like India.

Keywords:

• Complex communication needs
• augmentative alternative communication
• communicative functions
• speech generating app
• AVAZ

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.