Augmentative communication aid use—A follow-up study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to collect and analyze comprehensive data regarding use of augmentative communication aids following aid prescription and orientation. The experimenters conducted a telephone survey. Parents or spouses of all nonspeakers fitted with an augmentative communicative aid at Callier Center from 1980 to 1984 served as informants. The survey probed for information concerning percentage of aid use, number of basic communicative functions, place of aid use, and other pertinent variables. Data regarding 24 child and 18 adult nonspeakers revealed that 50% of the children and 17% of the adults used their communication aids more than 25% of their waking hours. Mean numbers of examples cited for use of five basic communication functions were 3.79 and 3.86 for children and adults, respectively. Place of aid use most frequently noted was school or agency for both groups. Significant relationships were noted between age and percentage of aid use and for child subjects, between receptive language quotient and number of communication functions. Analysis of additional relationships and implications for clinical/research applications are discussed.