Communication Partners Experiences of Communicating With Adults With Severe/Profound Intellectual Disability Through Augmentative and Alternative Communication: A Mixed Methods Systematic Review
Journal of Intellectual Disabilities
Hanley, E., Martin, A. M., et al. (2023).
Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 27(4), 1107-1134.
This systematic review investigates potential barriers and facilitators to the use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for adults with severe to profound intellectual disability.
No funding received
Not specified
Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method studies
8
Findings demonstrated the following themes regarding barriers and facilitators to the use of AAC techniques for adults with severe to profound intellectual disability:<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #333333;">Support staff were able to identify and produce more signed words following education by a trained speech-language pathologist or an official training program when compared to education provided by a support worker.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333;"> Increased communication partner knowledge about AAC led to greater use of AAC.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333;">Positive communication partner attitudes regarding AAC use may be a facilitator to successful AAC use.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333;">Communication partners' perceived familiarity with the individual and assumed knowledge of the individual's intended messages were noted as potential barriers to AAC use. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333;">Time resource availability for learning how to communicate with AAC and ensuring that individuals using AAC have access to adequate communication opportunities may be a facilitator or a barrier to AAC use.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333;">Uncertainty regarding ownership of responsibilities for facilitating communication was an additional barrier to AAC use, demonstrating the need for communication partners' to have clearly outlined roles and responsibilities in AAC use. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333;">The consideration of client preferences and communication needs as well as their acceptance of various AAC methods was noted as a potential facilitator of AAC use. </span></li>
</ul>
