The aim of this study was to determine the role of visual language input on PCS sentence construction. Thirty-nine participants were divided into two comparable groups and exposed to two inputs of presentations of PCS to investigate the impact of each input on the sentence construction of the participants. In the SVO input the sequence of buttons was in the normal English word order sequence (Subject-Verb-Object) and in the SOV input the word order was Subject-Object-Verb. Both input groups had to answer six questions by using PCS as well as speech. The findings indicated that the participants did not sequence their output to match the word order of the unfamiliar SOV input. The participants receiving the SOV condition used fewer PCS elements than the participants receiving the SVO condition. The participants receiving the SVO and SOV inputs gave similar spoken answers. Reasons for these findings are discussed, as are the implications for further research. / Dissertation (M (Augmentative and Alternative Communication))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC) / unrestricted

Receptive language skills form the foundation for later expressive use and therefore play an important role in language development. The role of receptive language skills in the field of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) has received limited attention as, historically, the function of AAC has been to enhance the expressive language skills of persons who rely on AAC. While this is an important role and the primary outcome of AAC intervention, the role of AAC intervention on receptive language skills is equally important. The ability of persons who rely on AAC to understand spoken language ranges from age equivalent comprehension to minimal comprehension. AAC interventions that improve comprehension include a variety of strategies, but a synthesis of the effects of these strategies has not occurred. The aim of this scoping review was, therefore, to map and synthesise the research evidence on the effects of AAC interventions on receptive language skills of children with developmental disabilities. A four-pronged search strategy was used to identify studies that met the inclusion criteria. Twenty-three studies were included in the scoping review. The studies were described in terms of number of publications, participant characteristics, research design, AAC interventions, intervention outcomes, intervention effects, and quality appraisal. Furthermore, the studies were described in terms of three groups of effects: (i) the effect of aided AAC interventions, (ii) the effect of unaided AAC interventions, and (iii) a comparison of two types of AAC interventions. The trends and gaps in the literature are highlighted in terms of the use of AAC interventions and the receptive language skills addressed. Directions for future research are posited. Valuable preliminary evidence regarding the effects of AAC interventions on receptive language skills of children with developmental disabilities was obtained in the scoping review. / Mini Dissertation (M(AAC))--University of Pretoria, 2017. / National Research Foundation (NRF) / Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC) / M(AAC) / Unrestricted

Background: Augmented input (AI) refers to any visual or linguistic strategy used by communication partners to increase the message comprehension of a person with aphasia. Previous research has focused on the type of AI, such as high versus low context images and linguistic versus visual supports, that can be used to facilitate improved auditory and reading comprehension. The results of these studies have been varied. To date, researchers have not evaluated the frequency of AI required to improve auditory comprehension of persons with chronic aphasia. Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of AI using no context Picture Communication Symbols™ (PCS) images, presented at a frequency of 70%, versus no AI on the accuracy of auditory comprehension of narratives for persons with chronic aphasia. Methods and procedures: A total of 12 participants with chronic aphasia listened to two narratives, one in each of the conditions. Auditory comprehension was measured by assessing participants’ accuracy in responding to 15 multiple choice cloze-type statements related to the narratives. Results: Of the 12 participants, 7 participants (58.33%) gave more accurate responses to comprehension items in the AI condition, 4 participants (33.33%) gave more accurate responses in the no AI condition and 1 participant scored the same in both the conditions. Conclusion: No context Picture Communication Symbols™ (PCS) images used as AI improved the accuracy of responses to comprehension items based on narratives for some persons with chronic aphasia. Continued research is necessary in order to determine what forms and frequency of AI will lead to improved auditory comprehension for persons with aphasia. / Mini Dissertation (M(AAC))--University of Pretoria, 2017. / National Research Foundation (NRF) / Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC) / M(AAC) / Unrestricted

A large portion of the world’s population is multilingual. This trend is reflected in the population with communication disorders, and therefore in people with complex communication needs (CCN). People with CCN may need alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) systems to facilitate their participation in daily life. These systems are often related to the language of the person’s community. Yet, if this person lives in a multilingual community, little current research is available to guide the design of AAC systems that give access to expression in more than one language. This pilot study aimed to determine the ability of typically developing Afrikaans-English bilingual children, between the ages of 4;6 (years;months) and 6;11, to label Picture Communication Symbols (PCS) in both these languages when taught with mono medium (English) versus dual medium (Afrikaans and English) teaching. Four participants, who spoke Afrikaans and English, were included in the study. A withinsubjects crossover design was used. Each participant was taught two sets of symbols, one using mono medium and one dual medium teaching. Treatments were counterbalanced for order and set. Results tentatively showed that the teaching method was successful, with participants being able to label most symbols in English when taught in either mono (English) or dual medium. Participants were also able to label symbols in Afrikaans when taught the symbols by dual medium teaching. Some participants were spontaneously able to translate symbols taught by mono medium teaching (English) to Afrikaans. This pilot study tentatively suggests that this ability is dependent on the child’s receptive vocabulary ability in both languages, as well as their ability to express the concepts depicted by the symbols in both L1 and L2. Future research is needed with studies that include a larger sample size, to be able to draw more robust conclusions. / Mini Dissertation (M(AAC))--University of Pretoria, 2017. / National Research Foundation (NRF) / Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC) / M(AAC) / Unrestricted

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AbstractSyftet med studien var att undersöka hur förskolepersonal uppfattar arbetet med TAKK och TAKK-bilderböcker i förskolans dagliga verksamhet. TAKK är ett alternativt kommunikationsmedel som i de flesta fall fungerar som ett stöd för barn som är i behov av det, (Heister Trygg, 2010). Som blivande förskollärare så ligger det i vårt intresse att bidra med mer kunskap om metoden TAKK och hur den kan användas i förskolans verksamhet, då tidigare forskning kring metoden har uppfattats som minimal. Heister Trygg (2010) är en av dem som forskar om TAKK, och hennes forskning har framförallt agerat stöttepelare i vår studie. Empirin är insamlad genom kvalitativ undersökningsmetod i form av intervjuer, som vi har sedan analyserat med hjälp av relationella och kategoriska perspektiv, sociokulturellt perspektiv samt KoRP. Studiens resultat visar att förskolepersonal som har en viss erfarenhet och kunskap inom TAKK, exempelvis genom kurser, vidareutbildning eller tecken-program, uppfattar metoden som positiv, språkfrämjande och som ett stöd till alla barn, oavsett ålder, bakgrund och språkkunskaper. Informanterna anser att TAKK borde vara tillgängligt för alla i förskolans verksamhet, både barn, personal och föräldrar. Några informanter uppfattar arbetet med TAKK som svårt och motigt eftersom många inom förskolläraryrket saknar tidigare kunskap och kompetens om hur de kan arbeta med metoden. Informanterna önskar mer stöd och vägledning inom TAKK-metoden. Vi ser att den förskolepersonal som har hjälp och stöttning av inspirerande kollegor, alternativt kunnig specialpedagog, upplever en större trygghet och ökade, pedagogiska möjligheter med TAKK som metod. Det förefaller viktigt att arbeta med TAKK ur både ett organisations, grupp och individperspektiv, eftersom det tar tid att bygga upp fungerande kommunikationssätt. Resultatet från våra intervjuer visar också att TAKK-bilderboken uppfattas som ett enkelt verktyg att använda i verksamheten, även för de pedagoger som upplever sig osäkra på metoden. Detta eftersom TAKK-bilderboken som färdigt material är lättillgängligt och inte kräver någon egen improvisation från personalen. Vårt resultat i studien är förankrat och knyter an till den tidigare forskning som finns inom TAKK och TAKK-bilderboken.Nyckelord:AAC, AKK, förskola, kommunikation, pedagog, TAKK, TAKK-bilderbok.

Individuals with communication impairments (CI) are at a distinct disadvantage when attempting to interact through more traditional conversational means. Although their intentions may be similar to peers, physical limitations make verbal articulation of thoughts and feelings a more laborious undertaking. For some, the use of external augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) has offered an otherwise unavailable communicative opportunity. However, this type of communication requires more of the non-AAC using conversation partner and, unlike traditional forms of communication, may increase the likelihood of miscommunication. Although there is agreement as to the importance of understanding the experience of individuals using external AAC, there is limited research in the area of miscommunication, conflict, and conflict resolution. This phenomenological study explored the experiences of six individuals who use external AAC devices. The purpose of this study was to address the following research questions:1) What are the conflict behaviors, beliefs, values, or thoughts of individuals using external AAC devices? 2) Does miscommunication between AAC and non-AAC users contribute to conflict? 3) Do identity standards and empowerment needs contribute to the development of conflict? and 4) For those using external AAC devices, what is the impact of, and what do successful resolutions mean? This study finds similarities in the interpersonal conflict experience of external AAC users and non-users. However there were differences in their experience with larger societal-level conflict. Understanding these areas of similarity and difference is beneficial to anyone who endeavors to support the interpersonal and societal level conflict resolution of this unique population.

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No description available.

Picture cards is a tool used to replace or supplement missing speech or language. This study sheds light on how swimming teachers experience the use of picture cards in the swimming schools organized by Folkhälsan. The issues raised are: What opportunities does the swimming teachers see with the use of picture cards? What challenges does the swimming teachers see with the use of picture cards? To find out what opportunities and challenges they see, a total of five semi structured interviews wereconducted. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and then analyzed through a thematic analysis. The results showed that the use of picture cards in swimming school contributes to increased inclusion, it enables different working methods, and it creates conditions for several other effects like students becoming more attentive, listen better and the lessons being more well thought out. The challenges the swimming teachers could see with the use of picture cards were mainly about insufficient information and deficient material and that some practical difficulties can arise. The practical difficulties that emerged were that it got messy in the group because of too many cards and that focus sometimes is drawn from the children. In conclusion, the swimming teachers felt that the picture cards have more positive effects than negative ones.