Caregiver perceptions of the use of AAC by children and young people with Down's syndrome:An exploratory survey

Individuals with Down's syndrome can experience verbal communication challenges across their lifespan, including a high likelihood of intelligibility difficulties, impacting daily interactions (Kent &amp; Vorperian, 2013; Kumin, 2006). AAC can, therefore, be beneficial. This includes unaided AAC modalities such as keyword signing and gesture, and aided modalities, including the use of communication books and voice output communication aids (Wilkinson, 2021).<br/>To date, research involving the use of unaided and aided AAC by children<br/>and young people with Down's syndrome has mostly taken the form of intervention studies. The lived experience of how AAC is accessed, supported, and used by this group is, however, relatively unreported. Due to this, an exploratory online survey was developed to gain insight into the ‘real-world’ use of AAC by children and young people with Down's syndrome (3 to 18 years), completed by 264 caregivers across the UK. Drawing upon the quantitative and qualitative data, this presentation will highlight the AAC modalities being<br/>used and the support being received relating to verbal communication and AAC. Contextual influences on communication experiences will be also discussed. The results illustrate limited adoption of voice output communication aids among this group in addition to discrepancies in AAC use between home, school, and wider social contexts. Further, despite keyword signing being the most used form of AAC reported in the study, its use, in the absence of alternative AAC modalities, appears to present barriers in wider social contexts due to required communication partner knowledge and training. Dissatisfaction related to<br/>support received for verbal communication and voice output communication aids will also be discussed. This session will thereby highlight the need to extend understanding relating to AAC use, decision-making, and related support involving children and young people with Down's syndrome, providing scope to further enable societal participation and independence