Augmentative and alternative communication practices: a descriptive study of the perceptions of South African speech-language therapists

Abstract

Speech-language therapists (SLTs) have direct contact with a wide variety of individuals who require augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and they are therefore considered to have a primary role in the assessment, selection, and implementation of AAC symbols, techniques, aids, and strategies. Limited information is available with regard to SLTs’ practices in the field of AAC, and there is a particular paucity of information about developing country contexts such as South Africa. The aim of this study was to determine how South African SLTs perceive their current AAC practices. Specifically, the study aimed to investigate SLTs’ assessment and intervention practices, their choice and use of graphic symbols, and display layouts for aided AAC systems. An online survey was developed, using the Qualtrics Research Suite™ online survey software. The survey included open-ended questions (analyzed using thematic analysis) and closed questions (analyzed using descriptive statistics). The responses indicated that SLTs in South Africa currently use a limited variety of assessment and intervention approaches. The data suggest that current practices are informed by previous experience with various technologies and AAC systems and that the primary caseloads of SLTs do not appear to inform specific approaches to assessment and AAC implementation.

Keywords:

• Speech-language therapists
• assessment
• intervention
• perceptions
• practice-based evidence

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all the participants.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper

Notes

1 The iPad, iPhone, iPod, and the iOS mobile operating system, are registered trademarks of Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA. www.apple.com.

2 Android is a mobile operating system developed by Google Inc., Mountainview, CA. www.android.com

3 In South Africa, SLTs qualify to practice after completing a 4-year graduate degree (professional Bachelor’s degree). Currently, all graduate curricula in the field of SLT at the various universities include AAC training, and all SLT graduates may practice in the field of AAC (provided they judge themselves competent to do so).

4 The Centre for AAC offers a multidisciplinary Master’s degree in AAC in which qualified SLTs and other professionals can enroll to deepen their skills in AAC theory, research, and practice.

5 Qualtrics Research Suite is a product of Qualtrics LLC, Provo, UT. www.qualtrics.com

6 The GoTalk is a product of the Attainment Company Inc., Verona, WI. www.attainmentcompany.com

7 The BIGmack, the Step by Step, Talking Bricks, and the iTalk2 are products of AbleNet Inc., Roseville, MN. www.ablenetinc.com

8 Big Point is a product of Inclusive Technology of Oldham, United Kingdom. www.inclusive.co.uk

9 The Smart/Talk is a product of Advanced Multimedia Devices Inc., Farmingdale, NY. www.amdi.net

10 Vmax is a product of Tobii Dynavox, Pittsburgh, PA. www.tobiidynavox.com

11 Windows is a meta-family of graphical operating systems developed, marketed, and sold by Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA. www.microsoft.com

Additional information

Funding

This study was financially supported by University of Pretoria Research Development Programme and the National Research Foundation Tutuka Grants (TTK 150708124127 and TTK 150617119597). Opinions expressed and conclusions arrived at are those of the authors and not necessarily to be attributed to the NRF or the University of Pretoria.