COMD 4450 EXAM 2 STUDY GUIDE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
2026
Myths of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) - ANS 1. AAC should be viewed
as a last resort
2. AAC hinders or stops speech development
3. certain cognitive skills are needed prior
4. speech-generating device is only for children with intact cognition
5. chronological age is not a factor in consideration for AAC
6. no hierarchy of symbols to real objects to photos to line drawings (choose based on child's
needs)
Assessment for AAC - ANS -Multidisciplinary team
-Assess nonverbal skills, expressive skills, receptive skills, literacy skills, pragmatic skills, play
skills
Aided AAC sytstem - ANS speech-generating device, picture communication symbols, line
drawings
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
1
, Unaided AAC system - ANS manual signs, gestures, finger spelling (use only own body)
High Tech AAC system - ANS utilize microcomputers, tablets, and specialized software
Low Tech AAC system - ANS no electronic parts, Picture Exchange Communication Systems,
letter boards, schedule boards, symbol boards
Accessing a Speech-Generating Device - ANS -direct selection: touch is easiest
-switch access: scanning
*scan pattern: linear, circular, row-column, block, auditory (impaired vision)
*scan mode: automatic, inverse, step (efficient)
-Head tracker
-Eye tracking
Patient Populations - ANS Children or adults with: CP, Intellectual Disability, Autism, apraxia
and dysarthria, TBI, locked-in syndrome, guillain-barre syndrome (paralysis for weeks), severe
language delays
Barriers to AAC - ANS -opportunity barriers
-policy barriers (legislature)
-practice barriers (school procedures, device @ school)
-knowledge barriers (lack of info about use)
-skill barriers (communication partner has trouble with strategy)
-attitude barrier (towards AAC, keeps them from participating)
-access barrier (limitation in child's capability or communication system)
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
2
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
2026
Myths of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) - ANS 1. AAC should be viewed
as a last resort
2. AAC hinders or stops speech development
3. certain cognitive skills are needed prior
4. speech-generating device is only for children with intact cognition
5. chronological age is not a factor in consideration for AAC
6. no hierarchy of symbols to real objects to photos to line drawings (choose based on child's
needs)
Assessment for AAC - ANS -Multidisciplinary team
-Assess nonverbal skills, expressive skills, receptive skills, literacy skills, pragmatic skills, play
skills
Aided AAC sytstem - ANS speech-generating device, picture communication symbols, line
drawings
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
1
, Unaided AAC system - ANS manual signs, gestures, finger spelling (use only own body)
High Tech AAC system - ANS utilize microcomputers, tablets, and specialized software
Low Tech AAC system - ANS no electronic parts, Picture Exchange Communication Systems,
letter boards, schedule boards, symbol boards
Accessing a Speech-Generating Device - ANS -direct selection: touch is easiest
-switch access: scanning
*scan pattern: linear, circular, row-column, block, auditory (impaired vision)
*scan mode: automatic, inverse, step (efficient)
-Head tracker
-Eye tracking
Patient Populations - ANS Children or adults with: CP, Intellectual Disability, Autism, apraxia
and dysarthria, TBI, locked-in syndrome, guillain-barre syndrome (paralysis for weeks), severe
language delays
Barriers to AAC - ANS -opportunity barriers
-policy barriers (legislature)
-practice barriers (school procedures, device @ school)
-knowledge barriers (lack of info about use)
-skill barriers (communication partner has trouble with strategy)
-attitude barrier (towards AAC, keeps them from participating)
-access barrier (limitation in child's capability or communication system)
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
2
