Augmentative and Alternative Communication and Speech Production for Individuals with ASD: A Systematic Review.

Area of Science:

• Speech-Language Pathology
• Developmental Psychology
• Autism Spectrum Disorder Research

Background:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often involves challenges in speech development.
• Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is frequently used to support communication in children with ASD.
• Previous systematic reviews have examined AAC's impact, necessitating updated research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effects of AAC on speech development in children with ASD.
• To replicate, update, and extend the findings of Schlosser and Wendt (2008).
• To synthesize evidence from single-case and group design studies.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis of published research.
• Inclusion criteria focused on participant characteristics, intervention type, study design, and outcome analysis.
• Searched for articles published between 1975 and May 2020.
• Included 25 single-case design articles and 3 group design articles.

Main Results:

• Overall, AAC interventions led to improvements in speech production for children with ASD.
• The observed speech gains were directly associated with AAC use.
• The extent of speech development did not surpass the level of AAC implementation.

Conclusions:

• AAC is an effective intervention for enhancing speech production in children with ASD.
• The findings support the continued use and exploration of AAC strategies for this population.
• Further research may explore the nuances of AAC's impact on different aspects of speech development.