COMD 4500 Final Exam Questions &
Complete Solutions
conditions benefitting from AAC - Correct Answer -congenital: ASD, Cerebral Palsy, Intellectual
disabilities, developmental Apraxia of Speech, Genetic disorders
-Acquired: aphasia, dysarthria, apraxia, voice disorders, temporary conditions
goals of AAC assessment - Correct Answer 1. Figure out which type of system is going to be best for this
patient
2. If going for a high-tech device, convince the insurance companies that it is viable
duration of AAC need - Correct Answer 5 minutes to over a month
Collaborative team for AAC assessment often includes - Correct Answer OT, PT, post-high teacher,
caregivers, physician
goal of AAC assessment - Correct Answer meshing characteristics of AAC system with characteristics of
speaker
What is an AAC system? - Correct Answer An integrated group of components used to enhance
communication
Types of AAC systems - Correct Answer -unaided (no tech/external tools?
-aided (low tech or high tech)
unaided AAC examples - Correct Answer gestures, manual signs, facial expressions, vocalizations, body
language
low-tech AAC examples - Correct Answer pictures, objects, photographs, writing, communication books
, high-tech AAC examples - Correct Answer Speech Generating Devices (SGD): synthesized and digitized
speech, single-message devices and recordable devices, AAC software
AAC symbols - Correct Answer -iconicity:(transparent, opaque, translucent)
-language representation methods (alphabet based, single-meaning message, semantic compaction -
combining existing words to make new concepts)
-display types (static/fixed, dynamic (changes based on user's actions, hybrid (mix of static and dynamic),
displays (semantic-syntactic, taxonomic, activity grid)
AAC selection techniques - Correct Answer direct, indirect (scanning, head switch, eye tracker)
AAC strategies - Correct Answer -process or plan of action used to improve performance
-the "extra" stuff
--word prediction, location of vocabulary, pre-recorded messages
characteristics of AAC users to assess - Correct Answer speech and language abilities, physical abilities
(fine motor, gross motor), mobility, hearing and visual abilities, literacy, cognitive abilities, daily
communication needs, funding sources, amount of time needed
AAC evaluation components for insurance companies - Correct Answer -rationale for device selection
-SGDs considered or tried
-recommended SGD and accessories
-functional communication goals
-treatment plan
components of AAC competence - Correct Answer linguistic, operational, social, strategic, psychosocial
AAC linguistic competence - Correct Answer -receptive and expressive language skills
-knowledge of linguistic code of device
