AAC Modeling Intervention Research Review
Abstract
A systematic review of research on the effects of interventions that include communication partner modeling of aided augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) on the language acquisition of individuals with complex communication needs was conducted. Included studies incorporated AAC modeling as a primary component of the intervention, defined as the communication partners (a) modeling aided AAC as they speak and (b) participating in the context of a naturalistic communication interaction. This review used a best-evidence approach, including nine single-case studies, with 31 participants, and 70 replications, and one quasi-experimental randomized group design study, including 63 participants. The results of the review indicated that AAC modeling intervention packages led to meaningful linguistic gains across four areas including (a) pragmatics, marked by increases in communication turns; (b) semantics, marked by receptive and expressive vocabulary increases; (c) syntax, marked by multi-symbol turn increases; and (d) morphology, marked by increases in target morphology structures.
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References
References marked with an asterisk indicate studies included in the literature review.
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Biographies
Samuel C. Sennott, PhD, is an assistant professor of special education at Portland State University (PSU). He is the founder of the new Universal Design Lab at PSU, which is focused on innovative research and development, teaching, and community service in the areas of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), assistive technology, and universal design for learning. He cocreated the popular AAC app, the original Proloquo2Go for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.
Janice C. Light, PhD, holds the Hintz Family Endowed Chair in Children’s Communicative Competence in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at The Pennsylvania State University. She is actively involved in research, personnel preparation, and service delivery in the area of AAC. Her primary interest has been furthering understanding of the development of communicative competence, language, and literacy skills by individuals with complex communication needs who require AAC.
David McNaughton, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Educational and School Psychology and Special Education, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, at The Pennsylvania State University. He teaches classes on assistive technology and collaboration skills, and his current research interests include the development of vocational opportunities for individuals with severe disabilities, and literacy instruction for children with complex communication needs.
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Article first published online: April 8, 2016
Issue published: June 2016
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This article was published in Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities.
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