Using Dynamic Assessment to Evaluate the Expressive Syntax of Children who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication

Abstract

The developmental readiness of four 5-year-old children to produce basic sentences using graphic symbols on an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device during a dynamic assessment (DA) task was examined. Additionally, the ability of the DA task to predict performance on a subsequent experimental task was evaluated. A graduated prompting framework was used during DA. Measures included amount of support required to produce the targets, modifiability (change in participant performance) within a DA session, and predictive validity of DA. Participants accurately produced target structures with varying amounts of support. Modifiability within DA sessions was evident for some participants, and partial support was provided for the measures of predictive validity. These initial results indicate that DA may be a viable way to measure young children's developmental readiness to learn how to sequence simple, rule-based messages via aided AAC.

Keywords::

• Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)
• Dynamic assessment (DA)
• Graduated prompting
• Grammar
• Syntax

Notes

Acknowledgements

This project was completed as a master's thesis project for the first author. The authors thank thesis committee members Philip Dale, Janet Patterson, and particularly Barbara Rodriguez, who inspired this project; UNM AAC lab students Eliza Webb, Lindsay Mansfield, Elijia Buenviaje, Jamie Ragsdale, Merissa Ekman, Maja Whitaker, Victoria Ortega, Emily Heisler, and Nathan Bickley for their assistance; and the children and families who participated in this study.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

This research was supported by NIH Grant 1R03DC011610.

Notes

1. The Apple iPad is a line of tablet computers designed and marketed by Apple Inc. with headquarters located in Silicon Valley, CA. More information about the Apple iPad can be found at: www.apple.com/ipad

2. Proloquo2go is a product from AssistiveWare and is an augmentative and alternative communication software application developed for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch. More information can be found at: http://www.assistiveware.com/product/proloquo2go.

3. Acapela Group is a company that develops text-to-speech software and services. Acapela Group was found in 2003 through a merging of three European companies specializing in vocal technology, Babel Technologies (Belgium), Infovox (Sweden), and Elan Speech (France). More information can be found at: http://www.acapela-group.com/.

4. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is an American animated television series that premiered on Disney Channel in 2006. It is the only Mickey Mouse program to be aimed at preschoolers. More information can be found at: http://disneyjunior.com/mickey-mouse-clubhouse.

5. Google Images is a search engine owned by Google and introduced in 2001 that allows users to search the web for image content. See images.google.com.

6. Minspeak™ is a graphic symbol-based communication approach in which each symbol represents multiple concepts. These symbols are combined to access words on an SGD. More information can be found at: http://www.minspeak.com.