Research in AAC
Long-Term Outcomes of AAC Intervention
What are the goals of the project?
The goal of this project is to determine the long-term outcomes of 15 years of using AAC for a
group of individuals. Investigating the outcomes of AAC interventions and determining factors
that relate to the success or failure of AAC have been identified as research priorities by the
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) (Beukelman & Ansel,
1995) and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR, 1992).
There have been many advances in the field of AAC in the past ten to fifteen years. However,
despite these advances, at present there are no data on the long-term outcomes of using AAC.
Young adults today are part of the first generation to have grown up with access to AAC services.
This project will describe the long term communication outcomes for a group of young men
(ages 19 – 23 years) who have used AAC systems since preschool, and identify possible factors
that contributed to these outcomes.
What is the project plan?
Communication impacts all aspects of life. Therefore, in order to evaluate communication
outcomes, we must consider communication within a larger context. "Meaningful outcomes
measurement requires documentation of changes in his/her participation in educational,
vocational, family, and community activities." (Blackstone, 1995).
Eight individuals who have been using AAC for the past 15 years (since preschool) are
participating in this study. The participants’ communication skills and interaction patterns
will be observed while communicating with their primary care givers. The data from this sample
will be compared with previous data collected when the participants were in preschool.
Additional data will be collected regarding linguistic skills, functional communication,
self-determination, quality of life, consumer satisfaction, and academic/ vocational
achievement.
The World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning and Disability
(ICIDH-2) model provides a structure to organize information regarding human functioning and
disability. This study will measure outcomes in all dimensions of the ICIDH-2 model. In the
domain of Body Function and Structures, structure and function of the speech mechanism, sensory
functions, and cognitive functions will be described. The Activity domain will be assessed
through measures of the participants’ expressive and receptive language skills, discourse
skills, reading and writing skills, and speech intelligibility. The Participation domain will
be measured with assessments of functional communication, communication needs, quality of life,
educational/vocational status, and self-determination.
What is the potential impact of this research?
This project will provide greatly needed information regarding the long-term outcomes of AAC
interventions and will lay the groundwork for future outcomes research. This project will
provide pilot data regarding the feasibility of the outcome measurement tools used, thus
paving the way for their use in future prospective research studies measuring the outcomes of
AAC interventions. The proposed study will identify factors that are believed to affect to
communicative competence. Future studies will systematically investigate these factors in
order to determine if a true cause and effect relationship exists with outcomes. The time has
come to document the effectiveness of AAC interventions. This project will provide important
initial data on long-term outcomes and lay the foundation for a course of future research to
improve intervention for individuals with severe communication disabilities who use AAC.
Who is working on the project?
The project team consists of Shelley Lund, a Doctoral student in the Department of
Communication Disorders specializing in AAC (Student Investigator), Janice Light, Ph.D.
(Principal Investigator), and undergraduate and graduate students, including Jessica Currall
and Kerry Frey.
Ms. Lynne Balfour, Director, Communication and Writing Aids Clinic, Bloorview MacMillan Centre,
Toronto, should also be mentioned, for without her help, the project wouldn’t have come together
so smoothly.
What is the funding source?
This project is funded by student-initiated grant #H324B990069 from the Department of Education,
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
What is the timeline for the project?
The grant runs from August 1, 1999 – December 31, 2000.
Where can I find out more about the project?
For more information, contact Shelley Lund. SKL124@psu.edu
Information about preliminary results were presented at the 2000 conference of the International
Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC) in Washington, D.C.
Lund, S. & Light, J. (August, 2000). Fifteen years later: The long term outcomes of AAC
interventions. Miniseminar presented at the biennial conference of the International Society
for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC), Washington, DC.
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