title: Augmentative and alternative communication interventions for persons with developmental disabilities: narrative review of comparative single-subject experimental studies.
abstract: Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) as an area of clinical and educational practice involves a myriad of decisions related to the symbols, devices, and strategies from which each client must choose. These decision-making points can be productively informed through evidence from comparative intervention studies. The purpose of this review was to synthesize comparative AAC intervention studies using single-subject experimental designs involving participants with developmental disabilities. Following a systematic search, each qualifying study was reviewed in terms of a priori determined appraisal criteria, and summarized in tabular format. Studies were divided into three groups according to their study of aided approaches, unaided approaches, or a combination of both. Results are discussed in terms of methodological adequacy of the studies and their implications for future research and practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Northeastern University, 151C Forsyth, Boston, MA 02115, USA. R.Schlosser@neu.edu
authors.forename: Ralf W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Schlosser
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sigafoos
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D003147:Communication Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans