Augmentative and alternative communication and deaf children with disabilities

With recent data reporting approximately 40-50% of Deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) individuals as having a diability, complex communication needs are not uncommon within this population and can present unique communicative challenges. Implementing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems can provide this population with an effective means of communication, assist them in developing specific language skills, and support them in effectively accessing their social environment. The purpose of this scoping review was to (a) identify the facilitators and barriers to AAC provision for this group of individuals, (b) discuss observable trends throughout studies, and (c) highlight areas for further research in AAC for this group of learners. This review compiles the results from seven studies within the last 10 years and focuses on the facilitators and barriers when implementing AAC systems for DHH individuals with a disability (DWD) and complex communication needs. The facilitators and barriers are categorised as interpersonal, intervention and assessment related. The trends that were identified included (a) the overall success of AAC, (b) the prevalence of speech-generating devices (SGD) use, (c) the lack of communication within interdisciplinary teams, (d) the lack of DHH-specific research, and (e) the lack of standardised methods for AAC selection.