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Prescribing Assistive Technology: Focus on Children With Complex Communication Needs: Clinical Report
Larry W Desch1, Laura J Hobart-Porter2, Amy Houtrow3
1Department of Pediatrics, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science and Advocate Children's Hospital, Oak Lawn, Illinois.
Insights
Pediatricians are vital in providing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technology for children with complex communication needs. This technology aids language development and effective communication for non-verbal children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Medicine
- Communication Sciences
- Assistive Technology
Background:
- Children with absent or impaired verbal communication have complex communication needs.
- Pediatricians are integral to the interdisciplinary team providing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technology.
- Effective communication is crucial for a child's development and well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline the role of primary care pediatricians in AAC.
- To describe types of AAC technology, assessment, and training.
- To guide pediatricians on AAC acquisition, utilization, and resource identification.
Main Methods:
- This clinical report synthesizes current knowledge on AAC.
- It reviews AAC device types, assessment protocols, and training needs.
- It details the pediatrician's role, involving specialists and funding.
Main Results:
- AAC technology is essential for children with complex communication needs.
- Research confirms AAC promotes language development and effective communication.
- Pediatricians can reassure families about the benefits of AAC.
Conclusions:
- Pediatricians play a key role in facilitating AAC for children.
- Identifying community resources for AAC is a shared responsibility.
- Successful AAC integration requires collaboration among medical, educational, therapeutic, and family stakeholders.
Abstract:
The primary care pediatrician and other pediatric physicians play a critical role in the interdisciplinary team effort to provide appropriate augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technology to children with absent or severely impaired verbal communication, recently recategorized as a complex communication need. This clinical report describes the different types of AAC technology, the device assessment process, and the training required for successful integration into a child's communication. The report further describes the role of the pediatrician in acquisition and appropriate utilization of this technology with a focus on key specialists and funding sources. Decades of research confirm that use of AAC promotes language development; therefore, primary care physicians can reassure families that AAC will likely help their child to learn to communicate more effectively. There is an important need for key resources for AAC to be identified in every community; the majority of relevant professional organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, recognize that these resources are a shared medical, educational, therapeutic, and family responsibility.
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