October is AAC Awareness Month!

What is AAC?

Alternative & Augmentative Communication (AAC) is a range of strategies and tools to help people who struggle with speech. These may be letter or picture boards or computer-based systems. The aim of AAC it to help someone to communicate as effectively as possible, in as many situations as possible.

AAC users have made the following suggestions to help you relax and enjoy a conversation with them (taken from What is AAC? - Communication Matters)

The Situation

• If possible choose a quiet environment with minimal background noise so you can concentrate on the conversation.
• Face the person you are talking with – we all find it easier to communicate naturally when we can pick up visual clues like body language, gesture and facial expressions.
• Everyone communicates in a different way, and it’s the same for an AAC user. Start off by asking if they need anything to help them have a successful conversation with you.

Getting Started

• Before you start talking, be aware that however brief your conversation you will need more time than you would with a speaking person. Be prepared to give that time.
• A good start to the conversation boosts everyone’s confidence. Make eye contact and speak directly with the AAC user, not their assistant.
• If you have never listened to an AAC user before in a conversation, let them know – they will be patient and assist you the best they can.
• Start with concrete subjects such as the current situation you are both in.
• When you ask a question please wait for a reply.
• Keep your own remarks short and simple. It helps the AAC user and gives them a chance to speak.
• It is tempting to speed things up by finishing off the person’s sentence for them. Avoid this – it’s where misunderstandings often start.

Developing Conversations

• Take the time to make sure you have understood the AAC user correctly by rephrasing their response.
• Try to introduce only one topic of conversation as a time, as the pace of interaction is slower.
• Be clear when you are changing the topic; the AAC user may miss subtle facial clues if they are looking at their system.
• It is much harder for an AAC user to interject into a conversation. They will appreciate it if you make time and invite them to ask questions, rather than expect them to.
• Asking questions is important in conversation, but be aware that there are different types of questions. It is good to structure a conversation by only asking one question at a time.
• Ask open questions to get a more detailed response; it’s worth waiting for the answer. Open questions usually begin with “who”, “what”, “where”, “when”, “why”, “how” and “if”.
• Avoid asking questions that can only be answered by “yes” and “no” – it’s boring for everyone!

Dealing with misunderstandings

• Misunderstandings happen all the time in normal conversation. We all use little phrases like “Hang on a minute, did you say…?” AAC users cannot use these easily. It really helps if you watch their face – if they look confused check they have understood. Don’t be afraid to ask “Did you mean …?” or “Could you say that again?”

If you get really lost, ask the AAC user to clarify:

• Who are we talking about?
• What situation are we talking about?
• When did this situation take place: in the present, past or future?

Ending a conversation

• When the flow of conversation is interrupted or slow, it can feel like hard work. This can lead to fatigue and loss of concentration. This is more likely to happen to you than the AAC user; they are used to conversations being this way. It is absolutely fine to say if you need a break, but if you haven’t completed your conversation it is good manners to say you will return to finish it.
• Some AAC users find using their system tiring – they might need a break themselves before you finish your conversation. If you sense they are getting tired, why not suggest they take a break.
• Many of us use non-verbal cues to signal it’s time to end a conversation – this might be looking away, fidgeting, etc. Remember the AAC user may not see these cues if they are looking at their system. They are not missing cues; they simply can’t see them. Let them know clearly that you need to move on or have to go. Be courteous and check they have had their say before you do end the conversation.

Last Thoughts

We hope we have given you some thoughts and insights into communicating with AAC users. As with all new ways of communicating, practice makes perfect. The more you engage with AAC users, the better you will become. Remember that AAC users want to talk to you; they understand how you feel and will help you all they can.