A Systematic Review of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Interventions for Children Aged From 0 to 6 Years

Lang Speech Hear Serv Sch. 2022 Jul 6;53(3):894-920. doi: 10.1044/2022_LSHSS-21-00191. Epub 2022 Jun 27.

Abstract

Purpose: This systematic review evaluates the latest available evidence regarding augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) interventions in children from 0 to 6 years old diagnosed with various disabilities.

Method: A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE (OVID), PsycINFO (EBSCO), ERIC (ProQuest), SCIELO (WOS), Teacher Reference Center (EBSCO), and Education Database (ProQuest), and studies on AAC interventions in children from 0 to 6 years old diagnosed with various disabilities were selected independently by two reviewers (A.L.-R. and N.I.M.) according to the purpose of the review.

Results: Twenty-nine of 1,709 studies met the inclusion criteria for this review. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed, and the characteristics and results of the studies were extracted by a descriptive analysis (O.L.S. and M.O.-V.).

Conclusion: This analysis revealed that children with different diagnoses show improvements in expressive and receptive communication, functional communication behaviors, communication participation skills, interaction strategies, and symbol and multisymbol production and comprehension by using various AAC systems.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Communication
  • Communication Aids for Disabled*
  • Comprehension
  • Disabled Children*
  • Disabled Persons
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn