What Is AAC and How Does Speech Therapy Help Children Who Use It?

QUICK ANSWER

AAC, or augmentative and alternative communication, is any tool or system that supports communication without relying solely on spoken words, ranging from low-tech picture boards to high-tech speech-generating devices. A speech-language pathologist evaluates which system fits a child’s needs, teaches them to use it effectively, and helps families carry it into daily routines. Research consistently shows AAC does not prevent verbal speech from developing. In many cases, it supports it.

What AAC Actually Includes

AAC covers a wide range of tools, not just electronic devices. Low-tech options include picture boards and communication books, simple, low-cost systems that require no batteries or software. High-tech options include speech-generating devices and communication apps on tablets, which can offer larger vocabularies and more flexibility as a child’s communication needs grow. There’s no single right system for every child. A speech-language pathologist evaluates a child’s specific motor, cognitive, and communication profile to determine which system, or combination of systems, is the best fit.

The Question Almost Every Parent Asks First

The most common concern families raise about AAC is whether using it will stop their child from learning to talk. The research consistently says no. A widely cited research review examining AAC’s effect on speech production found that AAC interventions do not inhibit speech production, and in many cases actually support it [1]. A more recent review focused specifically on speech-generating devices found that 87 percent of participants across studies showed improvement in vocal utterances, with no studies reporting a decrease in spoken language after AAC was introduced [2]. The field’s own professional association puts it plainly: the evidence strongly indicates that AAC does not hinder the development of speech, even at the very earliest stages of language acquisition [2].

Why AAC Can Actually Support Spoken Language

This finding makes more sense once you consider what’s actually happening when a child uses AAC. A reliable way to communicate reduces the frustration that comes from not being understood, and it gives a child consistent, successful practice with the building blocks of communication: initiating, requesting, responding, taking turns. Research on children with autism who have minimal speech has found that AAC systems are highly effective at supporting communication, and providing AAC may actually bolster spoken language outcomes rather than compete with them [3]. AAC and verbal speech are not opposing goals. For many children, they develop together.

Low-tech AAC: picture boards, communication books, simple and immediate to use
High-tech AAC: speech-generating devices and communication apps with larger vocabularies
AAC does not replace speech therapy. A clinician still teaches the system and expands its use
Many children become multi-modal communicators, using both AAC and developing verbal speech together

What Speech Therapy Actually Does Once AAC Is Introduced

Handing a child a device or a picture board isn’t the endpoint. A speech-language pathologist teaches a child how to use the system effectively, expands their vocabulary within it over time, and works specifically on the communication skills that make the device useful across different settings and communication partners, not just in a therapy room. Families are coached on how to carry the system into daily routines, since a device that only comes out during therapy sessions doesn’t do much for a child’s actual daily communication. The device and the therapy work together. Neither replaces the other.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will using AAC make my child less motivated to talk?

Research does not support this concern. Studies consistently show AAC does not decrease spoken language, and in many cases is associated with improved vocalization over time.

How do I know which AAC system is right for my child?

A speech-language pathologist evaluates your child’s specific motor, cognitive, and communication needs to recommend a system, which may range from a simple picture board to a speech-generating device.

Does my child still need speech therapy if they have an AAC device?

Yes. A device is a tool, not a replacement for therapy. An SLP teaches your child to use it effectively and works on the communication skills that make it useful in daily life.

Can a child use AAC and still develop spoken language?

Yes, and this is common. Many children become multi-modal communicators, using AAC and verbal speech together as both continue to develop.

Is AAC only for children with autism?

No. AAC supports a wide range of children, including those with apraxia, cerebral palsy, and other conditions that affect verbal communication, not autism specifically.

A Tool That Works With Speech, Not Against It

AAC gives a child a reliable way to communicate right now, and the evidence is clear that it supports rather than replaces the development of spoken language.

For a broader look at speech therapy for specific needs, see our guide on speech therapy for autism, AAC, stuttering, and more. If you’re wondering whether AAC could help your child, we would love to hear from you. Call us at 815-783-2544 or submit a contact form.

Know a family worried that AAC will stop their child from talking? Share this with them. It might be exactly what they needed today.

Clinically verified by Allyson Chrystal, M.S., MOT, OTR/L, Vice President of Pediatric Therapy, Westside Children’s Therapy

Sources

Millar DC, Light JC, Schlosser RW. The Impact of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Intervention on the Speech Production of Individuals With Developmental Disabilities: A Research Review. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research. https://pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/1092-4388(2006/021)
Augmentative and Alternative Communication in Early Intervention. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. https://www.asha.org/practice/early-intervention-provider-support/augmentative-and-alternative-communication-in-early-intervention/
The Effect of Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions and Aided AAC on the Language Development of Children on the Autism Spectrum with Minimal Speech: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. PMC. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12208088/