Brittlebank, S., Light, J. C., & Pope, L. (2024). A scoping review of AAC interventions for children and young adults with simultaneous visual and motor impairments: Clinical and research implications. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2024.2327044
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Background
Individuals with multiple disabilities are among the most challenging to serve and AAC teams often lack direction in determining effective interventions. Children with both visual and motor impairments often have complex communication needs. Often the the term multiple disabilities is used to capture individuals who experience two or more impairments. This scoping review focused on the research evidence on AAC interventions for individuals with complex communication needs and multiple disabilities.
The Current Article
The purpose of this scoping review was to summarize the research evidence on AAC interventions for individuals with complex communication needs and simultaneous motor, and visual impairments as part of their multiple disabilities; to consider implications for practice; and to determine gaps and directions for future research.
Results and Future Directions
A total of 27 studies were identified and reviewed, involving 55 unique participants with multiple disabilities. Most studies focused on direct intervention to increase requesting or choice-making, with little focus on social communication. Only two studies focused on training communication partners. Results indicated that AAC interventions can be highly effective to increase communication for individuals with multiple disabilities. However, there is an urgent need for increased rigor and more detailed participant information in future AAC intervention research with this population. Future research should investigate AAC intervention to improve social communication and increase language development, not just expression of needs and wants. Future research should focus on the needs of individuals with multiple disabilities from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and on implementation of AAC within natural environments.
Children and young adults with multiple disabilities are at high risk for speech and language impairments and often require AAC to support effective communication (receptive and/or expressive) (Horn & Kang, 2012) and to facilitate participation in meaningful activities of daily living. Successful communication is crucial to support self-advocacy, attain knowledge, express emotions, build social relationships, and enhance education and employment.
– Brittlebank et al., 2024
