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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.

301 topics, showing 241–250 (page 25 of 31).

S

Sign Supported English

Also called SSE, Signed English, Sign Supported Speech

BSL signs placed in English word order alongside speech, used by many deaf people who grew up with English and by hearing families.

Signalong

Also called Signalong key word signing

A sign-supported system built on BSL signs, spoken English order and a large published vocabulary, used across many special schools.

Single-message device

Also called Single-message switch, BIGmack, Recordable button, Talking button, One-message communicator

One big button, one recorded message. It looks like the least a device can do, and for some people it is the first time they have been heard.

Social communication differences

Also called Pragmatic language impairment, Social communication disorder, Social pragmatic communication disorder, SCD, Pragmatic difficulties

The unwritten rules of conversation, the people who don't use them, and why 'social skills training' is the wrong answer more often than the right one.

Social stories

Also called Social Stories, Social narratives, Carol Gray Social Stories

A short, personal, honest story that explains a situation before it happens: what will occur, who'll be there, and what people usually do.

Speaking a sentence

Also called Speak button, Playing a message, Message output

What actually happens when a person presses speak, and the etiquette for the listener: wait, look at the person, and do not finish their sentence.

Specialised AAC services

Also called NHS England specialised AAC, AAC hubs, Specialised AAC hub services, Regional AAC services

The NHS England hub services that assess for and provide powered communication aids, who is eligible, and why most people are not.

Speech and language therapist

Also called SLT, SALT, Speech therapist, Speech and language pathologist

What a speech and language therapist actually does, across speech, language, communication and swallowing, and what is not their job.

Speech recognition

Also called Voice recognition, Voice control, Dictation, ASR, Speech-to-text

Talking to a computer, and the uncomfortable truth that it works worst for many of the people who need it most.

Speech sound ages

Also called Speech sound development, Articulation norms, Speech sound acquisition, Sound development chart

Which sounds come when, and which a five-year-old is still allowed to get wrong. "Wabbit" at four is normal; "tat" for cat at five is worth a look.

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