Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) can be the perfect bridge between the child with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) and their environment. Learn more. 

<div>
  <a href="https://www.crosscountryeducation.com/blogs/apraxia-"
    >Childhood apraxia of speech</a
  >
  (CAS) has a significant impact on a child&rsquo;s intelligibility. It
  generally requires extensive speech therapy that can last for years. In the
  meantime, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) can be the perfect
  bridge between the child with apraxia and their environment.&nbsp;
</div>

<h2>Benefits of AAC for Apraxia</h2>

<div>
  There are many benefits to teaching AAC to a child with CAS. First, it can
  help reduce frustration over not being understood. It&rsquo;s no secret that
  children who have difficulty communicating often express their frustration
  through undesirable behaviors. Children may also react to communication
  breakdowns by giving up altogether, which can result in learned passivity over
  time. A well-matched AAC system, whether it&rsquo;s a low-tech picture-based
  system, a dynamic device, signs, or a combination of these, can go a long way
  toward alleviating these effects in children with CAS.&nbsp;
</div>

<h2>AAC and Language Development in Children with Apraxia</h2>

<div>
  Of equal importance is the role AAC can play in language development. Children
  with CAS often lack opportunities to practice an array of language and social
  skills. For example, if a child has difficulty articulating the s sound at the
  ends of words, they won&rsquo;t gain experience producing plurals and
  possessives.&nbsp;
</div>

<div>
  Further, if a child has difficulty being understood at the word or phrase
  level, they might be reluctant to attempt longer sentences or narratives.
  Syntax and story grammar skills, then, might be on pause until the
  student&rsquo;s articulation can catch up with these demands. And a student
  who struggles to be understood at the word or phrase level certainly
  won&rsquo;t have the opportunity to practice conversational turn-taking, topic
  maintenance, and other social skills.
</div>

<div>
  With the right AAC system, all of these skills can be targeted while the
  student works on increasing verbal intelligibility in therapy.&nbsp;
</div>

<h2>Evidence for Using AAC for Children with Apraxia</h2>

<div>
  There is evidence to support the use of AAC with children with CAS.
  <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07434619912331278615"
    >Cumley &amp; Swanson</a
  >
  found that children with CAS who used AAC had more opportunities to practice
  repairing communication breakdowns and maintaining social interactions. A case
  study by
  <a
    href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/17483107.2014.913715?journalCode=iidt20"
    >Luke</a
  >
  suggests that using speech-generating devices with children with CAS may be a
  &ldquo;highly effective&rdquo; approach to increasing communicative and
  linguistic competencies. &nbsp;
</div>

<h2>Caregivers and AAC</h2>

<div>
  Caregiver buy-in can be one of the most challenging elements of implementing
  any new AAC system, but it is crucial. Caregivers must learn to &ldquo;speak
  AAC&rdquo; to give the student with CAS a chance to become proficient with
  their own system. Ongoing training of caregivers and others who interact with
  the child with CAS is an important role of the SLP. This time investment,
  though considerable, will pay off tremendously in terms of the child&rsquo;s
  quality of interaction with their environment.&nbsp;
</div>

<div>
  As with all types of support provided in speech therapy, the long-term goal is
  that a child&rsquo;s speech becomes so intelligible that they no longer need
  to use the AAC system to be understood.&nbsp;
</div>

<h2>Speech Therapy Jobs with Cross Country Education</h2>

<div>
  Thanks for reading our resource on how AAC can help children with apraxia.
  While you&rsquo;re here, check out our other helpful
  <a href="https://www.crosscountryeducation.com/blog">articles for SLPs</a> and
  discover where your specialized skills as a
  <a
    href="https://www.crosscountryeducation.com/job-search-results?what=slp&amp;where="
    >school speech therapist</a
  >
  are needed most.&nbsp;<br />
</div>


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