Promoting Interaction with Children using Augmentative Communication through a Peer‐directed Intervention

The effect of pause time upon the communicative interactions of young people who use augmentative and alternative communication

“…Communication by people who use AAC is often slower than that of typical speakers (Carter & Maxwell, 1998;Harris, Skarakis Doyle, & Haaf, 1996;Todman, 2000). Decreased speed of communication typical of people using AAC was highlighted by Harris et al, (1996) in a language output analysis of a five-year-old boy with developmental verbal apraxia.…”

“…(Carter & Maxwell, 1998;Downing, 2005;Lund & Light, 2007;Myers, 2007). Lund and Light (2007) (Light & Binger, 1998;Light et al, 1985).…”

“…In order for the delivery of AAC services to be effective in achieving these goals, assessment and intervention needs to occur in natural environments and include communication partners. responses to the communication attempts of the person using AAC and not pausing long enough to provide opportunity for a turn to occur (Carter & Maxwell, 1998;Downing, 2005;Lund & Light, 2007;Myers, 2007). In addition, people using AAC are unique in …”

“…Indeed, an AAC system can often be a barrier rather than a facilitator of effective communication because of its slow rate and the extra demands it places on people"s cognitive, physical and processing resources (Carter & Maxwell, 1998;Higginbotham & Wilkins, 1999;Todman, 2000). Some people who use AAC may even forgo communication opportunities rather than tolerate lengthy pauses (Johnston et al, 2004;Light et al, 1985).…”

Interaction between children with cerebral palsy and their peers 2: Understanding initiated VOCA-mediated turns

“…Responses to the concern that children using communication aids experience limited peer interaction include, for example teaching aided speakers' naturally speaking communication partners (Carter & Maxwell, 1998;Kent-Walsh & McNaughton, 2005), and supporting and developing interactions between aided speakers and peers together (Clarke & Price, 2001;Lillienfeld & Alant, 2005;von Tetzchner, Brekke, Sjothun, & Grindheim, 2005). In addition, programmes have been developed that aim to support and assist children who use communication aids to initiate conversational sequences with peers more frequently, and to convey a greater variety of communicative functions during such interactions (e.g., Buzolich & Lunger, 1995).…”