Preservice speech-language pathologists' learning outcomes with speech-generating devices

Despite the need to improve preservice training in AAC, there is a limited understanding of what teaching and learning methods are effective in developing preservice speech-language pathologists' (SLPs') competence in AAC. One component of professional preparedness to provide AAC services includes competence with AAC systems. This study aimed to determine if a self-guided hands-on learning opportunity with a speech-generating device (SGD) was effective in developing preservice SLPs' competence with that system. Fifteen undergraduate students majoring in speech-language hearing spent up to 75-minutes exploring an SGD and related support materials. Following self-guided hands-on learning, they were asked to demonstrate a variety of operational and linguistic features of the SGD to assess their learning. Learning outcomes were analyzed descriptively. Participants demonstrated most of the SGD features that were assessed in this study, though they demonstrated fewer linguistic features than operational features. There were no significant differences in performance for participants who had previous clinical experience. Results indicated that self-guided hands-on learning opportunities facilitated students' knowledge and skills with features of SGDs. The paper concludes with implications and recommendations for facilitating hands-on learning with SGDs during preservice training.