Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Interventions that Promote Labeling, Commenting, and Telling: A Systematic Review Protocol

Review question / Objective: The aim of this systematic review is to identify and describe the augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) interventions that improve the labeling, commenting, and telling skills of children with communication disabilities. To that end, the following questions will be addressed: What is the quality and quantity of research investigating AAC interventions to promote labeling, commenting, and telling skills of children with communication disabilities? Which (if any) AAC interventions have sufficient empirical evidence to support their recommendation in practice for teaching children with communication disabilities labeling, commenting, and telling skills? Condition being studied: Speech is the primary modality of communication and socialization. However, not all individuals develop functional speech due to a variety of developmental or acquired disabilities, such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD), cerebral palsy (CP), or traumatic brain Injury. Although diagnoses vary, all these individuals share the condition of being unable to meet all the communication needs that others without disabilities typically meet through speech. Such Individuals are typically described as having complex communication needs or a severe communication disorder, or as requiring augmentative and alternative communication (Von Tetzchner & Basil, 2011).