Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) refers to any method of communication that supports or replaces spoken words. AAC can include low-tech tools (like gestures, picture symbols, or communication boards) and high-tech systems such as speech-generating devices (SGDs) that produce spoken messages.

AAC doesn’t replace speech — it adds another way to communicate, giving individuals a reliable voice to connect, learn, and express themselves.

AAC gives individuals the tools to:

• Express wants, needs, thoughts, and feelings
• Participate in social interactions and routines
• Build receptive and expressive language
• Develop literacy and cognitive skills through visual-verbal pairing
• Experience success and reduce frustration in daily communication

When communication becomes possible — and predictable — connection flourishes.

A speech-generating device (SGD) is a type of AAC system that allows a person to select words, symbols, or letters on a screen, which are then “spoken” aloud through a digital voice.

SGDs can be dedicated communication devices or tablet-based apps like TouchChat, Proloquo2Go, or LAMP Words for Life. Each system is customized to the user’s vocabulary, motor skills, and communication goals, making it possible to express anything from simple choices to complex thoughts.

AAC supports children and adults who have lost or never developed vocal speech for a variety of reasons — including autism, apraxia, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, brain injury, or other developmental or neurological conditions.

It can also help:

• Children who are over the age of three and have minimal words or who do not yet combine two or more words together
• Individuals who are vocal communicators, but difficult to understand due to complex articulation difficulties
• People whose speech is limited to a few consistent sounds or approximations
• Anyone who benefits from visual or technological supports to communicate clearly and effectively

In short, AAC gives access to communication for anyone whose speech is not yet enough to meet their daily needs.

Many challenging behaviors happen when a person cannot express what they want, need, or feel. AAC provides a functional alternative — a way to say “I need help,” “I’m all done,” or “I want more time with this” instead of using aggression, self-injury, or avoidance.

When individuals can successfully communicate, behavior becomes communication, and problem behaviors often decrease naturally.

AAC does not replace or hinder vocal speech — in fact, research consistently shows the opposite. When children have a reliable, accessible way to communicate, they often become more willing and able to use their voices.

AAC supports vocal communication by:

• Reducing frustration and pressure – when children can communicate successfully using AAC, they no longer rely on behaviors or guessing to be understood. With communication pressure lifted, many become more open to trying new vocal sounds and words.
• Providing clear speech models – many speech-generating devices produce spoken words aloud. Hearing a consistent, accurate model can help children imitate, practice, and eventually use those words vocally.
• Building the language foundation speech requires – speech emerges from strong language skills. AAC helps children learn vocabulary, grammar, and communication functions — the very building blocks that support vocal speech development.
• Encouraging multimodal communication – AAC is not “either/or.” Children can use AAC and vocal speech at the same time. Over time, as speech becomes easier and more efficient, many children naturally increase their vocal output.

Introducing AAC around age 3, when vocal speech is very limited or articulation is a significant challenge, can support the following:

• Gives children access to communication as soon as they need it — Waiting for speech to develop after age 3 can delay a child’s ability to express needs, feelings, and ideas. AAC enables immediate communication, reducing frustration and supporting social connection.
• Prevents communication delays from growing — When a child cannot communicate effectively, missed opportunities accumulate quickly. Early AAC helps children participate in routines, play, and learning long before they can do so with speech alone.
• Helps children learn language while speech emerges at their own pace — AAC lets children build language skills — vocabulary, grammar, and communication functions — even if their vocal system isn’t ready yet. When speech does develop, they already know what they want to say. AAC provides rich, consistent language input and communication experiences during critical early learning periods.
• Strengthens family and school teamwork — Early AAC allows parents, SLPs, BCBAs, teachers, and caregivers to use one shared system from the start, making communication more consistent and effective across environments.