Effects of Interventions That Include Aided Augmentative and Alternative Communication Input on the Communication of Individuals With Complex Communication Needs: A Meta-Analysis

Purpose

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to investigate the effects of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) interventions that included aided AAC input (e.g., aided AAC modeling, aided language modeling, aided language stimulation, augmented input) on communicative outcomes (both comprehension and expression) for individuals with developmental disabilities who use AAC.

Method

A systematic search resulted in the identification of 26 single-case experimental designs (88 participants) and 2 group experimental designs (103 participants). Studies were coded in terms of participants, intervention characteristics, dependent variables, outcomes, and quality of evidence.

Results

AAC interventions that included aided AAC input in isolation, or as part of a multicomponent intervention, were found to be highly effective across participants of various ages, disabilities, and language skills. The interventions typically included aided AAC input in conjunction with expectant delay, direct prompting (e.g., spoken, gestural), contingent responding, and open-ended questions. The interventions were found to be highly effective in supporting both comprehension and expression across the domains of pragmatics, semantics, and morphosyntax. Outcomes related to expression were reported more often than outcomes related to comprehension.

Conclusion

Aided AAC input may reduce input–output asymmetry and enhance expression and comprehension for individuals who use AAC; the evidence suggests that partners should utilize this strategy. Future research is needed to investigate the effects of AAC input (aided and unaided) on long-term language development for individuals who require AAC.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.6394364

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Transfer of Learning: What Does It Tell Us About Speech Production Units?

Purpose

Words, syllables, and phonemes have each been regarded as basic encoding units of speech production in various psycholinguistic models. The present article investigates the role of each unit in the interface with speech articulation, using a paradigm from motor control research.

Method

Seventy-six native speakers of French were trained to change their production of /be/ in response to an auditory feedback perturbation (auditory–motor learning). We then assessed the magnitude of learning transfer from /be/ to the syllables in 2 pseudowords (/bepe/ and /pebe/) and 1 real word (/bebe/) as well as the aftereffect on the same utterance (/be/) with a between-subjects design. This made it possible to contrast the amplitude of transfer at the levels of the utterance, the syllable, and the phoneme, depending on the position in the word. Linear mixed models allowed us to study the amplitude as well as the dynamics of the transfer and the aftereffect over trials.

Results

Transfer from the training utterance /be/ was observed for all vowels of the test utterances but was larger to the syllable /be/ than to the syllable /pe/ at word-initial position and larger to the 1st syllable than to the 2nd syllable in the utterance.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that words, syllables, and phonemes may all contribute to the definition of speech motor commands. In addition, the observation of a serial order effect raises new questions related to the connection between psycholinguistic models and speech motor control approaches.

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Effects of Interventions That Include Aided Augmentative and Alternative Communication Input on the Communication of Individuals With Complex Communication Needs: A Meta-Analysis

Purpose

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to investigate the effects of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) interventions that included aided AAC input (e.g., aided AAC modeling, aided language modeling, aided language stimulation, augmented input) on communicative outcomes (both comprehension and expression) for individuals with developmental disabilities who use AAC.

Method

A systematic search resulted in the identification of 26 single-case experimental designs (88 participants) and 2 group experimental designs (103 participants). Studies were coded in terms of participants, intervention characteristics, dependent variables, outcomes, and quality of evidence.

Results

AAC interventions that included aided AAC input in isolation, or as part of a multicomponent intervention, were found to be highly effective across participants of various ages, disabilities, and language skills. The interventions typically included aided AAC input in conjunction with expectant delay, direct prompting (e.g., spoken, gestural), contingent responding, and open-ended questions. The interventions were found to be highly effective in supporting both comprehension and expression across the domains of pragmatics, semantics, and morphosyntax. Outcomes related to expression were reported more often than outcomes related to comprehension.

Conclusion

Aided AAC input may reduce input–output asymmetry and enhance expression and comprehension for individuals who use AAC; the evidence suggests that partners should utilize this strategy. Future research is needed to investigate the effects of AAC input (aided and unaided) on long-term language development for individuals who require AAC.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.6394364

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Transfer of Learning: What Does It Tell Us About Speech Production Units?

Purpose

Words, syllables, and phonemes have each been regarded as basic encoding units of speech production in various psycholinguistic models. The present article investigates the role of each unit in the interface with speech articulation, using a paradigm from motor control research.

Method

Seventy-six native speakers of French were trained to change their production of /be/ in response to an auditory feedback perturbation (auditory–motor learning). We then assessed the magnitude of learning transfer from /be/ to the syllables in 2 pseudowords (/bepe/ and /pebe/) and 1 real word (/bebe/) as well as the aftereffect on the same utterance (/be/) with a between-subjects design. This made it possible to contrast the amplitude of transfer at the levels of the utterance, the syllable, and the phoneme, depending on the position in the word. Linear mixed models allowed us to study the amplitude as well as the dynamics of the transfer and the aftereffect over trials.

Results

Transfer from the training utterance /be/ was observed for all vowels of the test utterances but was larger to the syllable /be/ than to the syllable /pe/ at word-initial position and larger to the 1st syllable than to the 2nd syllable in the utterance.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that words, syllables, and phonemes may all contribute to the definition of speech motor commands. In addition, the observation of a serial order effect raises new questions related to the connection between psycholinguistic models and speech motor control approaches.

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O 018 – Biomechanical profiles of able-bodied robotic exoskeleton gait and normal walking

Publication date: Available online 21 June 2018
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): S. Hayes, M. White, H. White, N. Vanicek




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O 025–Kinematic and Strength Determinants of Step Length and Step Frequency in Children and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy

Publication date: Available online 21 June 2018
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): A. Pouliot, A. Parent, M. Lemay, L. Ballaz




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O 004 – Inter-laboratory comparison of subject measurements as basic parameters for instrumented gait analysis

Publication date: Available online 21 June 2018
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): S. Durstberger, F. Stief, J. Romkes, A. Kranzl




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O 022 - The short-term effects of selective dorsal rhizotomy on gait in cerebral palsy

Publication date: Available online 21 June 2018
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): R. O'sullivan, D. Kiernan, B. McLoughlin, J. Leonard




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O 038 - The association of selective motor control, muscle size and composition with the overall gait deviations of children with cerebral palsy

Publication date: Available online 21 June 2018
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): B. Hanssen, S.H. Schless, N. Peeters, N. De Beukelaer, L. Bar-On, F. Cenni, G. Molenaers, P. Calders, B. Dan, K. Desloovere




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ACL Reconstructed Individuals Do Not Demonstrate Deficits in Postural Control as Measured by Single-Leg Balance

Publication date: Available online 20 June 2018
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): S.G. Bodkin, L.V. Slater, G.E. Norte, J. Goetschius, J.M. Hart
BackgroundFollowing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), patients undergo a battery of performance assessments to determine progression of return to sport activity. Rates of reinjury following ACLR are high, indicating that current assessments may not accurately identify deficits at the time point of return to sport progression.Research QuestionTo assess single-leg postural control in ACLR patients around the time point of return to sport progression and their relationships to subjective function.Study DesignDescriptive Laboratory Study.Methods198 individuals (108 ACLR, 90 healthy) participated. All ACLR participants were at the time point of return to play progression. Postural stability was quantified by center of pressure (COP) average velocity measured through a straight-knee single-leg balance assessment for 10-seconds with the participant’s eyes closed. Subjective knee function was measured from the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Subjective Knee Form and the Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) subscales.ResultsNo significant differences existed between COP average velocity between limbs (uninvolved, involved) or groups (ACLR, Healthy). As a secondary aim, no significant relationships existed between measures of subjective knee function and postural stability.SignificanceIndividuals following ACLR demonstrate similar patterns of postural stability as healthy individuals in a straight knee single leg balance task. Single-leg balance in a straight knee position may not be sensitive enough to detect impairments and does not predict subjective function in ACLR patients at the time of return to sport progression.



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O 018 – Biomechanical profiles of able-bodied robotic exoskeleton gait and normal walking

Publication date: Available online 21 June 2018
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): S. Hayes, M. White, H. White, N. Vanicek




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O 025–Kinematic and Strength Determinants of Step Length and Step Frequency in Children and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy

Publication date: Available online 21 June 2018
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): A. Pouliot, A. Parent, M. Lemay, L. Ballaz




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O 004 – Inter-laboratory comparison of subject measurements as basic parameters for instrumented gait analysis

Publication date: Available online 21 June 2018
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): S. Durstberger, F. Stief, J. Romkes, A. Kranzl




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via IFTTT

O 022 - The short-term effects of selective dorsal rhizotomy on gait in cerebral palsy

Publication date: Available online 21 June 2018
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): R. O'sullivan, D. Kiernan, B. McLoughlin, J. Leonard




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O 038 - The association of selective motor control, muscle size and composition with the overall gait deviations of children with cerebral palsy

Publication date: Available online 21 June 2018
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): B. Hanssen, S.H. Schless, N. Peeters, N. De Beukelaer, L. Bar-On, F. Cenni, G. Molenaers, P. Calders, B. Dan, K. Desloovere




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ACL Reconstructed Individuals Do Not Demonstrate Deficits in Postural Control as Measured by Single-Leg Balance

Publication date: Available online 20 June 2018
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): S.G. Bodkin, L.V. Slater, G.E. Norte, J. Goetschius, J.M. Hart
BackgroundFollowing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), patients undergo a battery of performance assessments to determine progression of return to sport activity. Rates of reinjury following ACLR are high, indicating that current assessments may not accurately identify deficits at the time point of return to sport progression.Research QuestionTo assess single-leg postural control in ACLR patients around the time point of return to sport progression and their relationships to subjective function.Study DesignDescriptive Laboratory Study.Methods198 individuals (108 ACLR, 90 healthy) participated. All ACLR participants were at the time point of return to play progression. Postural stability was quantified by center of pressure (COP) average velocity measured through a straight-knee single-leg balance assessment for 10-seconds with the participant’s eyes closed. Subjective knee function was measured from the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Subjective Knee Form and the Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) subscales.ResultsNo significant differences existed between COP average velocity between limbs (uninvolved, involved) or groups (ACLR, Healthy). As a secondary aim, no significant relationships existed between measures of subjective knee function and postural stability.SignificanceIndividuals following ACLR demonstrate similar patterns of postural stability as healthy individuals in a straight knee single leg balance task. Single-leg balance in a straight knee position may not be sensitive enough to detect impairments and does not predict subjective function in ACLR patients at the time of return to sport progression.



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