Augmentative Communication

The Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Clinic at WFBH is known throughout North Carolina for its work with children who are non-verbal or whose speech and/or language skills are severely impaired. As one of the two clinics in North Carolina which provide a multidisciplinary evaluation for children with AAC needs, our team applies specialized knowledge and skills to best meet the communication needs of your child. 

Children who can not communicate basic needs and wants or who have communication skills that are not as advanced as their ability to think may benefit from an AAC evaluation. This population includes children with motor impairments, motor speech disorders, progressive illnesses, receptive and/or expressive language disorders, cerebral palsy, autism, or congenital anomalies.

The AAC Clinic multidisciplinary team consists of a:

• Speech-language pathologist
• Child psychologist
• Developmental pediatrician
• Occupational therapist
• Physical therapist

Parents and/or other caregivers are also important members of the evaluation team. Each professional needs to understand how your child communicates in his or her home, school, and community settings in order to recommend the best approach possible for AAC intervention. The team will consider many different systems for your child, including:

• Symbolic gestures
• Picture symbols
• Picture exchange systems
• Programmable switches
• Voice output devices
• Dynamic displays
• Computer-based systems

Many of these systems and strategies are available for onsite trial during the evaluation session. 

Recommendations will be made based on the results of the evaluation and are discussed with the child's family during the final portion of their evaluation session. The team may decide to lend the family a device for trial in their home setting before making a specific recommendation.

The speech-language pathologist on the team is available for individual monthly training sessions on programming and using the device. Family members, case managers, teachers, and other speech-language pathologists are invited and encouraged to attend these training sessions. 

To make an appointment with the team, please call 336-716-3103 to request that an information packet be mailed to your home. If there is currently a speech-language pathologist working with your child in the home, school, or private setting, you are encouraged to discuss your interest in pursuing an AAC evaluation with them. They may be able to offer some helpful insight and guidance with both the assessment and intervention process. Once the completed information packet is received by our team, you will be contacted and offered the next available appointment. We look forward to working with you and your child.