A 10-Year Analysis of Research Trends in the Journal of 「AAC Research & Practice

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to analyze AAC research trends over the past 10 years published in the "Journal of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Research" and to propose future research directions. Methods: A total of 123 articles published in the journal from 2013 to 2023 were analyzed to identify trends in overall characteristics(research type, research participants, disability type, research purpose) by year and academic field. Results: First, intervention research was found to be the most actively conducted research type. Second, research participants were mainly students with disabilities, special education teachers, speech-language pathologists, or caregivers in that order. Third, studies on individuals with developmental disabilities were predominant, while studies on individuals with severe and multiple disabilities were limited. Fourth, research purposes primarily focused on improving communication abilities and support needs. Notably, different academic fields showed variations in research focus, with special education emphasizing communication, speech-language pathology focusing on assessment, and engineering focusing on device and app development. Discussion and Conclusion: This study suggests that interdisciplinary collaboration and integrated research are necessary to enhance the journal's quality and promote the continuous development of AAC research in Korea.