Communication A to Z

Somebody hands you a leaflet that says AAC. A review mentions partner-assisted scanning. A ward asks whether your dad has a communication passport. Everyone else in the room seems to know what these words mean, and asking feels like admitting you're behind. You aren't. This library explains each one plainly: what it is, who it helps, how it works, and what you can do about it this week. Search by the word you heard.

Please note: This page is general information about communication and the ways people are supported to communicate. It is not an assessment, a diagnosis or speech and language therapy, and it does not know the person you have in mind. If you are worried about someone's speech, language or communication, ask a GP, a health visitor or a speech and language therapist. In an emergency, call 999; if you cannot speak, Relay UK on 18000 or the emergencySMS service reach the same operators.

22 topics filed under A, showing 11–20 (page 2 of 3).

A

Aided language stimulation

Also called ALS, Aided language input, Aided modelling, Partner-augmented input

You point to the symbols as you talk. The person sees their own system in use, hundreds of times, before anyone asks them to use it.

Alphabet board

Also called Letter board, Spelling board, ABC board, E-tran alphabet frame

The simplest text-based aid there is: 26 letters on a card. Every AAC user who can spell should own one, and it should be in the bag right now.

Aphasia

Also called Dysphasia, Expressive aphasia, Receptive aphasia, Broca's aphasia, Wernicke's aphasia

After a stroke or brain injury the words are still in there; aphasia damages the routes to them, and partners can build new ones.

Apraxia of speech

Also called Acquired apraxia of speech, Verbal apraxia, AOS

The person knows the word and the muscles are strong; what's lost is the plan for moving them, so the same word comes out differently every time.

ARASAAC

Also called Aragonese Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, ARASAAC pictograms

A free symbol set from the Government of Aragon in Spain, licensed for anyone to use without payment, and used across the world.

Asking questions

Also called Question words, Wh-questions, Interrogatives

Who, what, where, when, why. People who use boards are asked questions all day and almost never given the means to ask one back. Here is how to change that.

Attention Autism

Also called Bucket time, Gina Davies approach, Attention Autism programme

A bucket, some surprising things, and an adult who's genuinely fun. A four-stage way of building shared attention that children want to join.

Auditory processing

Also called Auditory processing disorder, APD, Central auditory processing, Listening difficulties

Hearing fine on the test and still struggling to make sense of what is heard, especially in noise. What it is, what it is often confused with, and what helps.

Auditory scanning

Also called Auditory scan, Spoken scanning, Audio cues

The device reads each choice aloud instead of lighting it up, so a person who cannot see the screen can still scan and choose.

Augmentative or alternative

Also called Augmentative communication, Alternative communication

The two halves of the acronym mean different things, and the difference matters most to a person who has some speech.

Try a voice now, free

Fiducia Talk is a complete talking board: 308 symbol cards, a phonics keyboard and a big-key keyboard, speaking in your device's own voice. No account, no subscription, and nothing you say leaves your device.

Open the board