title: Demographics of preschoolers who require AAC.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the investigation was to gather demographic information pertaining to preschoolers who require augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).
  
  
  METHODS
  To obtain this information, a survey was developed and then distributed to preschool speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in Pennsylvania.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results indicated that approximately 12% of preschoolers receiving special education services required AAC. These children came from diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, had a wide variety of disabilities, used a range of AAC systems, and required services from a wide range of educational professionals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings indicate the pressing need for all preschool SLPs to be prepared to provide services for children who require AAC.
authors.affiliation: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA. cbinger@unm.edu
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Binger
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Light
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003147:Communication Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003625:Data Collection; D003710:Demography; D004519:Education, Special / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D013066:Speech-Language Pathology