Sensitivity to Communication Partners During Naturalistic AAC Conversations in Cantonese Chinese.

Yen Na Yum,Rosanna Yuen-Yan Chan,Soby Ka Wing So

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.686657

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that graphic-based augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) output tend to be short and simple in structure with non-canonical word order, and that AAC users may show differences when communicating with peers compared to professionals such as speech therapists (STs). However, there was a lack of report for graphic-based AAC in the Chinese context, and the effect of communication partners had not been investigated systematically. In this study with 34 AAC users and 10 STs, we reported common and distinct features of free conversations in Cantonese graphic-based AAC, relative to AAC in other languages. We also found that AAC users were sensitive to different types of communication partners. In particular, when conversing with peers, AAC users produced long messages with equal proportion of questions and responses, which suggested active and bi-directional exchanges. In conversations with STs, AAC users showed high diversity in expressive vocabulary, indicating access to more semantic concepts. Results suggested that the base language and the communication partner are both influential factors that should be considered in studies of graphic-based AAC. The mobile AAC system facilitated free conversations in users with complex communication needs, affording an additional channel for social participation.

Highlights

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems are commonly used by people with complex communication needs (CCNs) to supplement verbal communication, or in some cases, substitute for oral language
This study reported Cantonese Chinese graphics-based AAC free conversations to examine how individuals with CCN use AAC with different communication partners, i.e., peers or speech therapists (STs)
182 symbols appeared only once or twice in the corpus, so the core vocabulary used in free conversations is small

Summary

Introduction

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems are commonly used by people with complex communication needs (CCNs) to supplement verbal communication, or in some cases, substitute for oral language. Systems developed for various communities have features (e.g., electronic vs non-electronic, text-based vs image-based) that facilitate usage in different contexts. McNaughton and Light (2013) raised important ways that mobile technologies impact the current use and continued development of ACC, including generating greater acceptance in society and wider dissemination of services. Mobile technology allow for new patterns of communication. As AAC mobile applications support network connectivity and interactions between two remote devices, users can converse with others in real-time to achieve a two-way communication which was infeasible before. EasyDialTM is a first-of-its-kind cloud AAC system

Methods

Results

Conclusion