Vocabulary Selection and Implementation in Vocabulary Interventions for Speech-Generating Devices: A Scoping Review

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Purpose: Intervention studies contribute to evidence-based practice in speech-language pathology. With individuals who use speech-generating devices (SGDs), it is important to determine what vocabulary to teach during intervention. However, it is unclear whether researchers are reporting the vocabulary selection techniques they used in intervention studies so that they may be replicated in clinical practice. The purpose of this scoping review was to examine the vocabulary selection techniques and other aspects of intervention studies focused on vocabulary acquisition in early symbolic communicators who use SGDs. Method: Eight databases (PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Educational Resources Information Center, Linguistics and Language Behavior Abstracts, Educational Research Complete, and CINAHL) were systematically searched for articles that were intervention studies targeting single-word vocabulary acquisition in early symbolic communicators who use SGDs. Data were extracted from each article and charted in Excel. Results: We found 5,405 unique articles, 18 of which met the inclusion/exclusion criteria for this review. All of the studies used a single-case design with three participants on average. Approximately half took place in the child's school, and most of the interventions were conducted by members of the research team. Eight studies targeted requesting or manding, six studies used preference assessments to select vocabulary, and seven articles used adults as informants to select the vocabulary. Conclusions: There are a limited number of studies investigating vocabulary acquisition in early symbolic communicators who use SGDs. Furthermore, the studies inconsistently used a range of methods that align with best practices for vocabulary selection.