Search:

Home | Internet | Blogging

Alternative and Augmentative Communication

By: alexis

Interpersonal communication is usually described as a process of exchanging information or messages from a sender to a receiver through a specific medium. Among humans, exchange of information is usually done by using language which is defined as a system of codes made of arbitrary signals governed by certain rules of use to represent concepts or ideas. Communicating using language can either be written or spoken. This process of continuous sending and receiving of information from encoders to decoders is much easier to imagine when those who are involved in the exchange are capable of using language. However, what about in certain instances when a person has problems communicating? For example, take the case of an 8-year-old girl who has cerebral palsy spastic quadriplegia or a 45-year-old man who recently had a stroke which affected his ability to speak and move. They will not be able to move their lips, tongue or jaw to articulate words. They also will not be able to move their hands to write or type words. How, then, will they be able to communicate their needs such as to ask for help? Because of situations like these among people who are differently-abled, a new form of communication was developed. This recent development is commonly called Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC), and it usually makes use additional components as aids or supporting devices.

AAC devices as a medium of communication are highly unique and individualized relative to the person who is going to use it. Unlike other mediums which are not particular to whoever wants to make use of it, the characteristics of AAC devices need to correspond to the limitations of the user. Going back to the girl with spastic cerebral palsy, she cannot make use of a device that will require for her to speak or write but she can use of her sight to select pictures that will represent her needs. Since she cannot use her hands to point to the pictures but she can move her head minimally, a laser penlight can be attached to her head to be used as a pointer. In the case of the man who had stroke but still retained his ability to spell words, instead of using pictures, a complete set of alphabet letters can be used as the components for him to choose from. For people who cannot see and speak but still retained their sense of hearing, devices that produce sound signals representing certain concepts can be used.

Aside from the devices being highly individualized, they should also be portable, durable, flexible and easy to use. A device which is big and heavy is not easy to carry and will be difficult to transfer from one place to another. Devices that are not portable are more of a limitation rather than an aid to those who use them. AAC devices should also be strong enough to sustain being used for a long time. Keeping on buying or making new AAC devices that easily break or get destroyed can be expensive and impractical. It is advantageous if a device can be upgraded or easily altered to suit the changes in the user's skills. For example, if a child progresses from using two words to using sentences to convey messages, the device should also be able to adapt to this development. Finally, devices should not be complicated. People who will use these device have limitations and too much unnecessary buttons or icons may just be confusing to them. If the device were compared to a written document, the term to be used is being “concise”. Also, it should be taken into consideration that these devices should be easy to manipulate because any more difficulty can be tedious for the user.

Nowadays, AAC devices range from those that are low-tech such as pictures that can be attached to boards using fasteners (e.g. Velcro) to those that utilize high-technology components such as laptops or portable PCs with access to the Internet. Several companies already market AAC devices but, if preferred, devices can still be made personally. It is understandable that some devices are quiet expensive especially those that make use of complex components which is why most individuals who have financial limitations opt to make their own devices. Those that are created personally, however, still need to be tested or observed for their effectiveness. Modifications can be later applied if the devices are found lacking in some ways.

The goal of using alternative and augmentative communication devices is to help a person achieve the natural way of communication through the use of aids. As their name suggests, these devices are just used to augment and as alternates and not to totally replace the natural and more ideal form of communication. Through the use of these device, professionals involved with rehabilitation still aim to help the person gain or regain the ability to communicate using language and speech.

Article Source: http://www.bigfreearticles.com

This article discusses the different alternative and augmentative communication devices that people who are differently-abled can use.

About the Author:
Free iFaxThe fastest growing provider of internet messaging services guarantees fast and efficient delivery of messages around the globe. Online Fax | Internet Fax Service

Tags: blogging, online fax, send fax, internet fax service, free online fax, online fax service, , internet fax services

Please Rate this Article

Comments

Share This Article - Quick and Easy Using This Button:

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Blogging Articles Via RSS!

Read More Articles From - Home | Internet | Blogging

Integrate Twitter Along with Your Word Press Blog By: Steve Canerr - Twitter is a micro running a blog platform that has caught the attention of the principle stream media. You share your thoughts, insights, data, ideas, and attention-grabbing article sources utilizing 140 characters or less together with your followers in Twitter. It's not a advertising platform however you possibly can effectively use it to establish your model and promote your services indirectly. In case you are planning to spam your Twitter followers along with your weblog post URLs and affiliate links, you will not go anywhere. Your followers will un-follow you quickly. You'll not get new followers.
Tags: internet, blogging, twitter, wordpress, blog, marketing
Make Money Blogging By: Karen Hutton - There are two major types of business models that entrepreneurs use to make money blogging. The first and most common way to turn a blog into a profit making machine is to sell advertising to different companies and brands who want to reach that blog's readers. The second way in which to turn a blog into a moneymaking machine is to help improve the image of a single brand. This can be done by creating positive associations between the brand being promoted and the blog itself.
Tags: internet, blogging, blogging, blogging for profit, blog, blogging for cash, blogging for profit
How to Write Engaging Blogs People Want to Read By: Robert Thomson - Thomas Edison famously remarked that genius was "1% inspiration, 99% perspiration." For bloggers this means that if you put your effort into it, you can create a blog that gathers a following. If you look at a group of bloggers, one with a worldwide following and the rest with small audiences, the former will not necessarily be the best writer, the funniest, the smartest or even the one with the most inside info or useful tips. The great bloggers you follow yourself could have varying amounts of these characteristics.
Tags: internet, blogging, blogs, seo, business
SEO for Blogs - A Starter By: Robert Thomson - In a perfect world, your well-written, useful and refreshingly original blog would rank well in search engine results just because it's good. But that's not reality. Great content is the foundation of a good blog, but it doesn't guarantee high rankings. There are some search engine optimization (SEO) things you simply must do to increase the chances that your blog will be found - and read. Before we get to how you should SEO your blog, remember that your first and primary goal should be to create the most informational blog in your industry.
Tags: internet, blogging, computers, business, blogs
Business Blogs â€“ What Type of Blog Should I Have? By: Robert Thomson - Once you understand how blogs can benefit your site, you might think that if one is good, two would be better. Or more. You would be right. However, it takes a little more than simply registering with Blogger or WordPress and throwing some verbiage into the void. You need to seriously think about what approach would benefit your company the most.
Tags: internet, blogging, blogs, seo, business
Tips on Finding the Highest Quality Online Medical Transcriptionist Training Program By: Susan Eliot. - Anyone can daydream about how wonderful and free their lives will be once they begin making limitless medical transcription salary, it's definitely a nice thought. To top it off, it's also very possible for anyone who is interested. However, there is a noticeable difference between the transcriptionist salary of someone who has a diploma or certification, and someone who doesn't. Fortunately, there are places online that will hire you without an education, but you should know that the pay isn't very desirable, at least not to most people.
Tags: internet, blogging
Avoiding Writing Bad Blog Posts for Your Real Estate Site By: Brandy Coffey - When you look around the internet at all the Realtor sites available, and there are a ton of them, it’s easy to see that many professionals in the real estate business are pretty in tune with the idea of blogging to get their name out in the public eye. However, what is also pretty painfully evident is that many Realtors have no idea what to blog about to accomplish that goal at all.
Tags: internet, blogging, blogging, blog posts, real estate marketing, blog marketing, real estate blogs
Are you Blogging a Dead Horse? By: Greg Eckler - With an ever increasing number of real estate agents embracing the digital age, there has been a considerable amount of debate within the industry about the advantages of blogging. Most property professionals are aware of the importance of social networking, and the active blog is seen as an essential tool in the modern agent's armory. However, simply having a blog may not be enough. Without quality content, a blog is just another wasted marketing opportunity, and postings should really engage with your intended readership. Firstly, they should be unique, and represent your true voice.
Tags: internet, blogging, blogging, social networking, blogs, real estate blogging, business blogs
Guide to Make Money Blogging By: Angie Ambos - Blogging is one of the most favorite and popular pastimes over the web. It is basically putting up a page where you spew the contents of your mind for readers online to see. However, it is more than writing because blogging involves some aspects apart from simple composition. It can become an integral part of online businesses. In fact, out of writing and posting what has been written online, people can make money. Blogging, indeed, revolutionizes the way we write and the way we use the internet—one of the strongest, most popular media as of today.
Tags: internet, blogging, make money blogging, blogging, making money online, internet marketing
Special Trick To Speed Up A Slow Internet Connection By: Tony Burns - In the modern household, one of the most significant annoyances is having a slow Internet connection. This is really a problem that's affecting a lot more and a lot more individuals, especially with the launch of broadband Web. Fortunately, there's a very simple way to fix the issue. A sluggish Web connection is normally characterized by any website taking a long time to load and feeling frustrated that the pages you want to visit are taking a lengthy time to come through. This issue is caused by two potential difficulties.
Tags: internet, blogging, slow pc

BigFreeArticles.com is operated by MJE Sales, LLC.
Please signup

Share This Page:

	Print This Article
	Add To Favorites
	Email to Friends
	Ezine Ready

Learn More

Submit Articles

Member Login

Top Authors