What is another aspect that needs to be considered with augumentative communication?

Question

What is another aspect that needs to be considered with augumentative communication?

Answer 1

Facilitated communication poses the question is the person's communication authentic, or are they being taught how to respond.  In my experience, it is common for a child using an augmentative communication device to be told what to say in response to questions.  For example when someone asks them how he/she is doing, a staff member will show them the button to tap on a Dynavox to say "I'm good".  This is not a genuine representation of how that child feels.

Answer 2

for very young user, we need to consider the possibility of over-dependency. the device should not replace opportunities to develop speech/language/literacy abilities should the young user have potential to learn.

Answer 3

Discrimination.

I know kids and they can not discriminate between the buttons meaning they just randomly hit buttons until they get the right one.

We always start with PECs as it teaches recrimination skills as well as facilitating language. (The person above me already made that wonderful point!!)