Decidir quién es un buen candidato para la CAA puede resultar difícil debido a varios mitos generalizados sobre la CAA de alta tecnología. Estos son algunos de los mitos y realidades más comunes cuando se trata del uso de CAA.
Realidad: AAC can help many different people! While some AAC users are non-speaking, many others do retain some ability to speak. For example, a person may have strong automatic speech but struggle to tell a story. Or, they may repeat words but struggle to initiate conversation. If there is a gap between what your client wants to say and what they are able to say, then some type of AAC might benefit them. In fact, using an AAC device can help build even more verbal speech.
Realidad: There’s no need to wait before you introduce AAC! Research with people with aphasia shows that the early introduction of AAC combined with traditional speech therapy improves language recovery and confidence when communicating (Dietz, Wallace, & Weissling, 2020). Regaining speech is an important goal for many clients, and introducing an AAC device early supports this by helping your client meet their immediate communication needs and serving as a valuable tool in therapy. Just like physical therapists don’t wait to introduce a walker, SLPs can also empower their clients with the tools they need to communicate right away.
Realidad: Using an AAC device can have a beneficial impact on speech and language (Dietz et. al, 2018). Lingraphica’s AAC devices are built based on years of research demonstrating that the use of a device improves language abilities in the aphasia population. Furthermore, individuals can use an AAC device to cue their own speech through hierarchical prompting and repetition. One anecdote we hear at Lingraphica time after time is how much a client’s verbal speech started improving after an AAC device was introduced.
Realidad: There’s no evidence to suggest that your clients must try low-tech AAC before trying high-tech AAC. Low-tech AAC — like pen and paper or a communication board — can be a great tool in some circumstances. However, for many clients, low-tech AAC is not functional or motivating due to the lack of voice output and the need for a partner to interpret it. Furthermore, many people are simply more engaged and motivated when using a modern, high-tech device that resembles the phones and tablets common in today’s world.
Realidad: While some users will become fully independent with their Lingraphica devices, many AAC users benefit from some level of partner support. This might involve help with basic tasks like charging the device, adjusting settings, or navigating between pages. But here’s the key: a partner-dependent user is still a successful user if the device helps improve their communication. Success with AAC isn’t about independence; it’s about achieving better communication.
The Lingraphica Learning Portal offers free, on-demand courses that are designed to provide fundamental information for SLPs who are new to Lingraphica and high-tech AAC. Click below to learn more and complete the courses.
Lingraphica ofrece consultas individuales gratuitas para SLP que tienen a alguien entre sus casos que podría ser una buena opción para un dispositivo CAA pero que no están del todo seguros de por dónde empezar. Llamenos al866-570-8775o visite el siguiente enlace para comenzar.
