ISSN : 2663-2187

Usage of Augmentative Alternative Communication Devices for Treatment of Speech Language disorders

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Hira Ahmad, Sidra Ansar, MahaIlahi, Muhammad Ahmed, AimenRubab, Hamza Tariq, Muhammad Muddasir, FahadMasood
» doi: 10.48047/AFJBS.6.12.2024.826-835

Abstract

Background: AAC (Augmentative Alternative Communications’) is any strategy that helps a child/Adult to participate and communicate better with the listener. In Ancient times, AAC was used in deaf patients in 1950s by professionals with disabilities who struggled to communicate with it. With the passage of time AAC devices grew day by day. Now there are variety of devices which are used in different settings by SLP,s among huge variety of normal and disordered patients like CP, Autism, MR ,Language delay and ALS for their better off life. Objective: To explore the knowledge of speech and language pathologist regarding their implicitly Usage of AAC devices in management of speech disorders. Methodology: Fifty speech and language pathologist of Lahore were surveyed and were asked about their knowledge and implementation about AAC devices in their clinical or academic settings whom they ever used during treatment to improve communication disorder. A valid Questionnaire was used to gather their basic information like age qualification and clinical settings along with their implicitly usage of AAC devices. Variety of barriers were discusses how they face through it when they were recommended AAC devices Results: Out of 50 participants majority of the Speech and Language Pathologists had knowledge of AAC devices and about 70% of the pathologists are using them during their treatment sessions. About 78% of respondents work with schooler children. Out of 50 participants, 24 (48%) of participants said that they use low tech devices, 14 (28%) used mid tech & 12 (24%) used high tech devices most. Commonly 56% of respondents used AAC technology for autism. Most of them were found agreed that seminars and workshops should be arranged for proper implicitly usage of AAC devices. Conclusion: AAC devices are found to be used by majority of the pathologists for better and effective improvement towards communication disorders.

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