Communication aids glossary
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A
Access or Selection Technique
How the user interacts with their communication aid. This can be direct or indirect:
- Direct access refers to the person independently pointing to a desired item eg. using their finger to activate a cell on a display, using a stylus (pointer) with a hand held device, using a head pointer. When the person points to something, the device or system performs a direct action eg. a letter is typed when key is pressed.
- Indirect access refers to a system where choices are offered to the person one at a time through visual or auditory scanning and they indicate their choice with a predetermined signal eg. the person may press on a switch to choose an item that is being highlighted by a visual cue. The visual or auditory scanning cues may be offered by the device itself or, in the case of low technology AAC tools, by a person pointing and/or speaking the choices aloud. This low technology strategy is commonly referred to as Partner Assisted Scanning.
Aided AAC
AAC that requires an external item to aid communication such as object symbols, communication boards/books with symbols or photos, speech generating devices, tablet computers (low and high tech).
Aided Language Stimulation
Where a facilitator points out picture symbols on a person’s communication display as they speak their own message, to teach the meaning of symbols and/or demonstrate how to use the symbols to communicate a message
Alternative access
Methods to access a computer, tablet or smartphone when a person cannot use touch. Examples include using switch scanning, head tracking or eye gaze.
Artificial Larynx/electrolarynx
A handheld battery-operated device that is held to the mouth or neck (or intra-oral) to enable voice through vibrations. Speech is created by movements of the lips and tongue. This device is primarily used by people who have undergone a laryngectomy or pharyngolaryngectomy.
Assistive Technology (AT)
‘Assistive technology is an umbrella term for assistive products and their related systems and services.’ (World Health Organisation).
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
AAC is a set of tools and strategies that an individual uses to solve every day communicative challenges. Communication can take many forms such as: speech, a shared glance, text, gestures, facial expressions, touch, sign language, symbols, pictures, speech generating devices, etc. Everyone uses multiple forms of communication, based upon the context and our communication partner. Effective communication occurs when the intent and meaning of one individual is understood by another person. The form is less important than the successful understanding of the message. ’ (International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication).
C
Cells/keys
The areas on a speech generating device where voice messages are stored.
Communication aid
A physical object or device used to transmit or receive messages (eg. communication book, speech generating device). For MASS purposes, this refers to artificial larynges, speech generating devices (SGD), iPads with AAC, communication software and voice amplification devices.
Communication competence
The ability to functionally communicate to adequately meet daily communication needs. It involves knowledge, judgement and skills in five areas: linguistic (mastery of the language code required by an AAC system), operational (technical skills required to operate an AAC system or device), social (mastery of the social rules of communication), strategic competence (effective use of compensatory strategies for communication breakdowns) and psychosocial factors (motivation, attitude, confidence and resilience). (Light, J., & McNaughton, D. (2014). Communicative Competence for Individuals who require Augmentative and Alternative Communication: A New Definition for a New Era of Communication? Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 30(1), 1 – 18.)
Communication/AAC software
Specialised software that provides on-screen displays and/or keyboards and voice output, that can be run on a laptop or tablet computer.
Complex communication needs
A person has CCN if they are “unable to use speech to meet all of their communication requirements, given their age and culture.” (Porter, G. & Kirkland, J. (1995). Integrating Augmentative and Alternative Communication into Groups Programs: Utilising the Principles of Conductive Education. Melbourne, Australia: Spastic Society of Victoria.)
Computer access
Equipment or strategies that allow an individual to access a computer eg. accessing the internet via a switch and onscreen keyboard.
D
Dedicated communication device
A communication device that has been set up to use a specific communication program, and which cannot be used for other computer applications.
Digitised speech
Spoken words recorded directly into a microphone and stored on the device
Dynamic display
‘These devices usually have a touch screen. They can be set up with multiple pages for different messages or words, using photos, symbols, or text. Selecting an item can bring up a new page, and pressing a symbol, photo, or word triggers a stored voice to read it aloud.’ (LifeTec Queensland).
E
Encoding
The use of numbers, letters, symbols or combinations to represent language. An example of the use of encoding is Minspeak, where sequences of multi-meaning symbol icons represents individual words.
Environmental control
Environmental controls help people with severe physical impairment to control appliances/devices in their immediate surroundings e.g. TV, music and lighting. Some speech generating devices and AAC software have inbuilt environmental controls.
Eye gaze/ eye tracking/gaze interaction
Controlling a computer or communication aid through use of eye movements, rather than a traditional keyboard or mouse.
Eye pointing
Looking or pointing to an object or communication aid to convey a message.
F
Filter keys
A feature on some devices/software that assists with preventing key repeats eg. liiiiiike this.
Functional communication
Any method or communication strategy that successfully allows a message to be conveyed to and understood by the communication partner.
H
High tech / technology
Electronic communication aids which can have speech output (eg. SGDs, mobile AAC applications on tablets).
I
Icons
See symbols
Integrated system
An integrated system may allow an individual to control multiple pieces of equipment via one system controller and method of access eg. a joystick to control their powered wheelchair, communication device with an inbuilt environmental control unit (ECU), and computer.
K
Keyguard
An accessory that assists with accurate selection of key/cells by providing physical borders between cells.
L
Language representation
Language can be represented visually by either letters, words, symbols (see definition of symbols below) or objects. Letter displays and keyboards are typically presented in either an ABC or QWERTY (computer) layout. Symbol displays can be represented by single meaning or multi-meaning pictures/icons. Single meaning icons are commonly used in low tech AAC (eg. Pragmatically Organised Dynamic Displays), simple speech generating devices, and in many high technology devices, where pre-programmed page sets are often available. Multi-meaning icons are only found on speech generating devices using semantic compaction (commercially known as MinSpeak), available through Liberator Australia and in some mobile applications, such as LAMP Words for Life, Unity AAC and Speak For Yourself.
Levels
Number of pages/overlays that can be programmed to store voice messages on light tech devices.
Light Tech / Technology
Single message devices that offer some but limited access to communication interaction.
Low Tech / Technology
Non-electronic communication aids (without speech output) and strategies eg. a communication book, topic lists, chat books.
M
Message banking
The process of recording and saving spoken utterances for the purpose of integrating these into a communication aid in the future. This is most often used in circumstances where the person is likely to lose the ability to speak.
Mobile technologies
Mobile technology is the technology used for cellular communication and encompasses portable devices such as laptops, tablets and smartphones.
Mount
A sturdy, adjustable hardware system that can securely position a communication aid or a switch for an individual to access. Common mounts are wheelchair, tabletop and floorstands.
Multimodal communication
The use of more than one AAC strategy in the communication environment in order to facilitate communication. It provides the person with a choice of using their preferred method in a variety of situations.
N
Non-dedicated device
Non-dedicated devices are mainstream devices e.g. tablets, that can be used for a range of purposes, including AAC.
O
Oral adaptor
An accessory used with an artificial larynx to direct the sound into the oral cavity . It is most often used with laryngectomees post-operatively when the neck is not appropriate to use, and for users with facial hair.
Overlay
A display of photos, symbols, letters, words and/or phrases which represent the voice messages stored in each cell of a light tech communication device.
P
Peripherals
A piece of additional computer hardware that is added to a host computer in order to expand its abilities.
R
Rate enhancement
Features on a communication device or software that can speed up message production for some users. Some examples are:
- Word prediction – The device/software guesses the word being typed as letters are selected. The accuracy of the guess increases as more letters are typed. The user is often able to select the word they want before having to type the entire word.
- Sticky Keys – A feature that allows two keys to be pressed separately instead of simultaneously eg. to produce a capital ‘M’- the shift key can be pressed before the ‘m’ and the software will perform the necessary action.
- Abbreviation expansion – A feature that allows word, phrases and sentences to be stored via initials or abbreviation eg. when “HS” is typed, the following message might be spoken: “Hi my name is Sarah.”
- Phrase storage – A device/software’s ability to pre-store entire phrases eliminating the need for the entire message to be typed each time.
S
Selection technique
See access
Speech Generating Device (SGD)
A device that speaks aloud messages for communication. Speech generating devices may assist individuals whose speech or other means of communication are not meeting their needs.
Static/fixed display
An electronic communication device where the display representing the stored messages is a fixed set of images, letters and/or words.
Symbols
Symbols may be visual, auditory or tactile and stand for concepts or ideas. Examples include gestures, objects, photos, line drawings, emoticons and printed words. They can assist with receptive language (ie. understanding / comprehension) or used to augment or as an alternative to spoken language.
Symbol sets
Commercially available sets of symbols/pictures/photos/line drawings that represent a variety of vocabulary concepts. Commonly used to produce communication resources such as communication books, charts or displays on Speech Generating Devices, both to assist receptive language and as a means of expression. Some commercially available symbol sets in Australia include Picture Communication Symbols (PCS), Widgit, Unity® symbols and SymbolStix.
Switch
An assistive product that enables a person to operate a range of technology, including communication aids, through a variety of different body movements. A switch is usually used where direct touch is not an option.
Switch scanning
An indirect method of selection, whereby cells on a communication aid are sequentially highlighted/spoken aloud with auditory prompts and a person activates a switch(es) to choose their message.
Synthesised speech
Artificial, computer-generated speech selected from a vocabulary that has been created entirely on a computer by specialised software. It can be customised to be gender/age group specific (ie. child/adult voice).
T
Text to speech
Device or software that speaks aloud words that are typed in by the user.
Touchguides
Touchguides are similar to keyguards in that they are an accessory that helps improve accuracy with touch to a communication aid. They are usually flatter and have circular holes for the person to put their fingers.
U
Unaided AAC
AAC that does not require any sort of external communication sources other than one’s body movements for the production of expressive communication, such as signing, finger spelling, gestures, facial expression, speech and body language.
V
Vocabulary
There are two groups of vocabulary:
- Core vocabulary – frequently used words, mostly consisting of verbs, pronouns, prepositions and adjectives. These few hundred words account for 80% of what we communicate.
- Fringe vocabulary – less common words, mostly nouns, that account for 20% of what is communicated.
Voice Amplification Device
A device that increases the volume of the user’s voice via an amplifier and a microphone.
Voice Banking
The process of recording a person’s natural voice and blending it with a synthesised voice to produce a personalised synthetic voice. This voice can then be added to AAC software and used when the person is no longer able to speak.
