• Follow guidelines, instructions or treatment plans provided to help the person use AAC.
  • Make sure that all relevant people are aware of the person’s need for AAC and how to support its use.
  • The person with brain injury may have difficulty independently initiating the use of AAC/communication aids. Therefore, please support the person to use their AAC effectively and make it a normal part of their everyday lives.  The person may have difficulty initiating use of AAC for several reasons. The person may:
    • Be unable to tell someone they need the aid.
    • Be unable to physically get the aid.
    • Not remember they need AAC.
    • May require encouragement in order to support their motivation to use AAC.
  • It can take time for the person to accept that they need AAC and that they will not be able to return to their previous communication ability. This period of adjustment requires sensitivity, understanding, patience and support from the person’s family, friends, support workers etc. It is a huge thing to have to come to terms with. It may also be necessary to treat a depressive illness, anxiety or other psychological and psychiatric problem as the person goes through this difficult time.
  • Support the person to have access to their communication aids. This may include carrying it around for them, ensuring it is taken on trips out and to social events.
  • If an electronic communication aid is used, give support to ensure it is kept charged.
  • If an electronic aid needs a repair, ensure this is done rapidly. Don’t put it in a cupboard until somebody remembers to sort it out.
  • If a communication aid is lost, please inform relevant people as soon as possible and obtain a replacement. This is much easier for a ‘low tech’ aid. It is advisable to ensure ‘high tech’ aids are insured properly.
  • It is absolutely necessary and a fundamental right that the person with expressive communication impairment requiring AAC has access to their communication aid, it is their ‘voice’. It is essential for them to be enabled to use their ‘voice’.
  • For the person who may need supplementary use of pictures, writing, gesture etc to support them to understand communication, ensure these strategies are used and that the picture/written aids required to support understanding are available. It is important that the person is supported to understand: this can help reduce confusion, distress, anxiety and challenging behaviour.
  • The person who uses a ‘high tech’ aids will benefit from access to ‘low tech’ aids at particular times e.g. in transport (may not be able to use high tech aid in a car), in the bath, in bed, if their high tech aid is broken. Please ensure a low tech ‘back up’ is provided, available and utilised when necessary.
  • It can take time for a person to learn to use a communication aid and a lot of practice may be necessary. It is important to give on-going support and lots of positive feedback. This is particularly the case for the person with cognitive impairments.
  • The person using a communication aid will need extra time to express themselves, this should be given.
  • Never ‘answer’ for the person who uses a communication aid unless absolutely necessary; give them the time to answer themselves. If you are required to answer for the person, this should be done sensitively and, if possible, by checking out with the person at the time that your answer is acceptable (e.g. asking questions that require only a yes/no response to check the answer is correct, and/or by observing the person’s facial expression and body language).
  • It may require some trial and error to get the right AAC for the person i.e. a system that suits their environment and needs. Good communication between the person, family, carers and professionals is essential.
  • Support for AAC can be obtained from your local Speech and Language Therapist, Occupational Therapist or local AAC specialist support centre.