A Scoping Review of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Interventions in Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs)
Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Muttiah, N., Gormley, J., et al. (2022).
Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 38(2), 123-134.
This systematic review investigates the effects of AAC intervention and communication-partner training on communication and participation for individuals with complex communication needs living in low- and middle-income countries. The languages used in intervention differed across studies.
Not stated
1985-2020
Peer-reviewed studies
18
<div>Direct AAC interventions showed positive outcomes for children including increased requesting, vocabulary, use of communication functions, efficiency, and production of symbol combinations. Interventions included:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>prompting;</li>
<li>aided modeling; </li>
<li>creating communicative opportunities; and </li>
<li>using AAC systems such as Picture Communication Symbols, Bliss Symbols, communication boards, and high-tech systems (10 studies).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>Communication partner training for both unaided and aided low- and high-tech AAC systems showed positive findings for communication partners such as improved knowledge of communication, creation of communication opportunities, AAC device operation skills, elicitation of specific communicative behaviors, and perceptions of individuals with complex communication needs. Studies also reported positive outcomes for the individuals with complex communication needs, including increased expressive communication and overall participation (6 studies).</div>
<div>AAC access and aided language stimulation showed primarily positive gains in narrative comprehension and symbol recognition in adults with aphasia in low and middle-income countries.</div>
