Augmented input refers to the support of any form of linguistic or visual strategies to enhance understanding during intervention. Previous research predominantly focused on the various types of augmented input that can be used, especially to support reading comprehension. The purpose of this study was to determine and compare the effect of varying amounts of augmented input using partner-pointing on the accuracy of auditory comprehension for persons with Wernicke’s aphasia specifically. The research was conducted with seven participants with Wernicke’s aphasia. The participants listened to three narratives in three conditions, namely 0%, 50% and 100% augmented input with partner-pointing, and then responded to comprehension items based on the narratives. Most participants had more accurate scores during the 50% augmented input condition. In addition, participants did significantly better in the 50% condition than in the 100% augmented input condition. The main clinical implication is that supporting narrative auditory comprehension with augmented input, used as pre-task and during-task stimulation, seems to facilitate the improved auditory comprehension of narratives for some persons with Wernicke’s aphasia. However, providing augmented input for all the content units of a narrative seems to have a negative effect on the auditory comprehension of some persons with Wernicke’s aphasia. Continued research is necessary to determine what types and frequency of augmented input will lead to improved auditory comprehension for persons with aphasia, specifically Wernicke’s aphasia. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2019. / Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC) / MA / 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

Receptive and expressive language difficulties are some of the core challenges facing children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Emerging research suggests that for children with ASD receptive language is more impaired than expressive language. Specifically, abstract concepts like prepositions, are challenging for them. Aided augmented input has been shown to be an effective means of facilitating understanding in some children with ASD, however the amount of aided augmented input required to ensure effective understanding has not been determined. The aim of this study was to measure and compare the participants’ ability to follow instructions containing prepositions, under two conditions of aided augmented input. A with-in subject research design, involving 17 participants with ASD, was used to measure the accuracy of responses to instructions containing prepositions. Each participant was presented with 12 instructions. Half of the instructions were provided with 25% aided augmented input (prepositions only) referred to as Condition A, and the other half were presented with 75% aided augmented input (subject, preposition and location) referred to as Condition B. Their responses to the instructions were recorded and analyzed. Results suggest that there was no statistical difference between the two conditions of aided augmented input. Eight participants responded better under Condition A and five participants responded better under Condition B. Four participants responded equally under both conditions. The findings suggest that some participants may benefit from more aided augmented input and some from less aided augmented input. There is need for additional studies to determine the conditions of aided augmented input needed for the effective understanding of instructions containing prepositions and factors affecting the outcome. / Mini Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2019. / Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC) / MA / Unrestricted

Comprehension of spoken language skills are often taken for granted in research concerning early childhood language acquisition in typically developing children. While the onset of early word comprehension arguably precedes word production, traditional research has focused on language production rather than comprehension. A similar trend of focussing on expression is evident in the field of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Traditionally, the role of AAC systems for individuals with little or no functional speech (LNFS) has been as an output mode for expressing messages. While this is an essential role and final outcome of AAC intervention strategies, the role of listeners is equally important. The comprehension of spoken language provides an essential foundation upon which language production competence can be built. AAC users' ability to comprehend spoken language is varied from age equivalent comprehension of spoken language to minimal comprehension. Some AAC users comprehend spoken language and therefore come to the AAC acquisition task with an established knowledge of spoken language. Others who experience difficulty comprehending spoken language require AAC as both input (receptive) and output (expressive) mode. Graphic symbols play a role in facilitating comprehension of messages either through facilitating the comprehension of the spoken language or the AAC symbols. The use of augmented input strategies like aided language stimulation is one type of instructional technique used in teaching graphic symbols to AAC users. Aided language stimulation refers to a technique in which a facilitator or communication partner combines the use of AAC with natural speech through simultaneously pointing to graphic symbols and speaking. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the impact of a three week long aided language stimulation program on the receptive language skills of children with LNFS. Four children participated in this multiple probe study. The aided language stimulation programme comprised three activities viz. arts and crafts, food preparation and story time activity. Each activity was repeated over duration of five subsequent sessions. Eight target vocabulary items were taught within each activity. The acquisition of all 24 target items were probed throughout the duration of the three week intervention period. The results indicated that all the participants acquired the target receptive vocabulary items. There were, however, variations in terms of the rate of acquisition. There was no statistically significant improvement in the general receptive language abilities of the participants. / Thesis (PhD (Augmentative and Alternative Communication))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC) / unrestricted