The effects of augmentative and alternative communication interventions on the receptive language skills of children with developmental disabilities: A scoping review

Abstract

For children with developmental disabilities and little or no functional speech, the effect of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) interventions on the development of receptive language has been neglected in research.

Purpose

To map and synthesise research evidence of the effects that aided and unaided AAC interventions have on the receptive language of children with developmental disabilities.

Method

This scoping review used a four-pronged search strategy (electronic databases, dissertations and theses, hand search, ancestry searches) to identify germane studies. A total of 16 studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies were described in terms of the number of participants, participant characteristics, research design, AAC interventions, intervention outcomes, intervention effects, and quality appraisal.

Result

The review revealed positive associations between aided and unaided AAC, vocabulary acquisition and symbol comprehension.

Conclusion

AAC interventions may have merit for the development of receptive language skills in children with developmental disabilities. Specific gaps in relation to unaided AAC, aided augmented input strategies, morphological and syntax development, and discourse comprehension are highlighted.

Keywords:

• aided approaches
• augmentative and alternative communication
• comprehension
• developmental disabilities
• intervention
• receptive language
• unaided approaches

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) Thuthuka programme (TTK 150708124127) and the Andrew W Mellon Foundation. Opinions expressed and conclusions arrived at are those of the author and are not necessarily the funders.