title: Augmentative and alternative communication.
abstract: With the help of a knowledgeable interdisciplinary team, individuals can find the best AAC system to meet their needs and enrich their quality of life. A new-found ability to communicate often significantly improves a person's overall prognosis and may prevent serious problems in the areas of behavior, learning, reading, and social development. However, because an AAC system is just one component of multimodal communication, it should not inhibit the use of speech by individuals who have some usable or functional speech. It is important to understand that AAC is a process and that an AAC system will evolve over time to meet the changing preferences, dislikes, and abilities of the user as that individual strives to accomplish communication goals.
authors.affiliation: Center for Disabilities and Development, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Downey
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hurtig
mesh_terms: D001184:Articulation Disorders; D003142:Communication; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D003147:Communication Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted