AAC in one sentence
AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) means any way of communicating that adds to speech or is used instead of it. Augmentative means it supports speech. Alternative means it can stand in for speech when talking isn’t possible or isn’t enough.
We all use some AAC already: waving goodbye, pointing at a menu, writing a note. For people who are nonspeaking, minimally speaking, or whose speech is hard to understand, AAC can become a main way to say what they think, want and feel.
The main types of AAC
Unaided AAC (no equipment)
Gestures, facial expressions, body language and sign language. These are always available, but the people around you need to understand them.
Low-tech AAC
Paper communication boards, picture cards, alphabet boards and communication books. They are cheap and never run out of battery, but they don’t speak, and they can be hard to expand.
High-tech AAC
Dedicated speech-generating devices and AAC apps on tablets. The person taps pictures, words or letters, and the device speaks the message out loud. Apps like TalkTiles let families start on an Android or Amazon Fire tablet they already own.
Many people use a mix: a tablet at home, signs in the bath, a paper board at the pool. All of these count, and they work best together.
Who uses AAC?
People of every age use AAC, for many different reasons. That includes some autistic people, people with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome or childhood apraxia of speech, and adults after a stroke, a brain injury, or with conditions like ALS. Some people use AAC all the time. Others use it when they are tired, upset, or talking to someone new.
You don’t need a diagnosis to try AAC at home. If speech isn’t giving someone a reliable way to be understood, AAC is worth exploring.
Common worries, answered
“Will AAC stop my child from learning to talk?”
This is the most common worry, and it is understandable. Research has not found that AAC stops speech from developing, and many studies suggest it can support speech and language. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) explains this in its overview of AAC. AAC adds options. It doesn’t take any away.
“Is my child ready for AAC?”
There is no test to pass first. A person doesn’t need to show they can talk, read, or match pictures before they are given a way to communicate. People learn AAC by seeing it used and having it available, the same way babies learn speech by hearing it long before they talk.
“Do we need an expensive device?”
Not to get started. Many families begin with an app on a tablet they already have. If you later want a dedicated device, a speech-language pathologist (SLP) can help you compare options.
How to start AAC at home: 6 simple habits
- Keep it close. AAC is someone’s voice, so it should be within reach all day, not put away in a drawer. Keep the tablet charged.
- Model, don’t quiz. When you talk, tap the matching words yourself. Say “Let’s go outside” and tap go and outside. This is often called modeling or aided language input. You don’t need to ask the person to copy you.
- Start with powerful words. Words like more, stop, help and go work in lots of situations. See our guide to core words.
- Pick a few daily moments. Snack time, play time and getting dressed happen every day, so they are great places to practice.
- Respond to every message. If someone taps stop, stop, even mid-game. Seeing that their words work is what makes AAC meaningful.
- Let them explore. Tapping lots of tiles “just to hear them” is how people learn where words are. It’s like babbling, and it’s a good sign.
Progress with AAC is often slow at first, then sudden. Keep modeling, keep the device available, and celebrate every attempt to communicate.
Working with professionals
A speech-language pathologist can do an AAC evaluation, suggest vocabulary, and help everyone around the person use AAC consistently. TalkTiles is a communication tool. It doesn’t replace that professional support, but it gives families an easy way to start while they wait for an assessment, or to practice between sessions.
Try AAC with TalkTiles
TalkTiles is a free-to-start AAC app for Android and Amazon Fire tablets. It opens straight to a starter board with core words and everyday topics, works offline, and has no ads. You can try a sample board in your browser right now.