Nikki Heitner Heyman
Identifying Children with Auditory Processing Difficulties
TIPS FOR TEACHERS The teacher is often the first person to identify signs of auditory processing difficulties. The following checklist may be helpful to assist with identification and referral to a...
What is Auditory Processing?
Auditory processing refers to "how well the ear talks to the brain and how well the brain understands what the ear tells it" (Musiek). Children with Auditory Processing difficulties may seem to have...
Why are so many children having speech therapy?
As a mom myself, I’ve heard the parking lot conversations about how every second child is in speech therapy or occupational therapy or both. But as a caring and concerned parent, you want what is...
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AAC is short for Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Source: AssistiveWare
Communication devices, systems, strategies and tools that replace or support spoken language are known as augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). These tools support a person who has difficulties communicating using speech.
The first “A” in AAC stands for Augmentative Communication. When you augment something, you add to it or supplement. Augmentative communication is when you add something to your speech (eg. sign language, pictures, a letter board). This can make your message clearer to your listener.
The second “A” in AAC stands for Alternative Communication. This is when you are not able to speak. It is also when your speech is not understood by others. In this case, you need a different way to communicate.
Basically, AAC can be tools, systems, devices or strategies. These tools help a person communicate, when they cannot rely on speech. Perhaps your child has not started talking. Perhaps you have lost your ability to speak. Perhaps your speech comes and goes. Maybe speaking is harder than other ways to communicate. AAC can help.
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