Systematic Review of AAC Intervention Research for Adolescents and Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Holyfield, C., Drager, K. D. R., et al. (2017).
Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 33(4), 201-212.
This systematic review investigates the use of augmentative and alternative communication as an intervention in adolescents, 11 years old and older, and adults on the autism spectrum.
Penn State AAC Leadership Project; U.S. Department of Education
1995 through February 2017
Original intervention studies
18
"Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) intervention appears to be highly effective for adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).... However, the limited number of adolescents and adults with ASD who have participated in AAC intervention research to date tempers these findings" (p. 209).
<p>This review found no one augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) mode or method to be most effective for increasing communication in adolescents and adults on the autism spectrum:</p>
<ul>
<li>"Adolescents and adults with ASD can be taught to use AAC successfully across a multitude of technology or representation options" (p. 209).</li>
<li>"A variety of instructional techniques were also implemented with success" including prompting, responding, and communication partner instruction (p. 209).</li>
</ul>
