Blog • Mar 24, 2016

Speech Therapy: What is AAC!?!

Rose McLean
Rose McLean
Rose McLean, PT, DPT, c/NDT, is co-owner and lead physical therapist at Chicago Pediatric Therapy & Wellness Center, where she has dedicated over 20 years…
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Rose McLean

Rose McLean

Rose McLean, PT, DPT, c/NDT, is co-owner and lead physical therapist at Chicago Pediatric Therapy & Wellness Center, where she has dedicated over 20 years to helping children with developmental challenges achieve their movement goals. Rose's specialized focus on pediatric physical therapy, combined with her commitment to multidisciplinary collaboration, has made her a trusted resource for families navigating motor delays, neurological conditions, and complex developmental needs throughout Chicago. Rose earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Northwestern University in Chicago in 2004, where she received rigorous training in both pediatric and neurological rehabilitation. She began her clinical career at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, consistently ranked among America's top pediatric medical centers, where she gained invaluable experience treating children with diverse and medically complex conditions. This foundation shaped her evidence-based, child-centered approach to therapy. Beyond her doctoral training, Rose holds certification in Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT), a specialized intervention approach for children with cerebral palsy, neurological impairments, and other developmental disorders. She also maintains registration with Illinois' Early Intervention Program, allowing her to provide services to infants and toddlers (birth to age 3) in both home and clinic settings. Rose's therapeutic style is distinctively playful and highly individualized. She invests time in understanding each child's personality, interests, and motivators, then designs sessions that feel like play while targeting specific developmental goals. Whether working on strength, balance, coordination, or motor planning, Rose ensures therapy remains engaging and appropriately challenging. In 2014, Rose partnered with her husband Patrick to establish Chicago Pediatric Therapy & Wellness Center, driven by a vision that pediatric therapy should be comprehensive, collaborative, and convenient. She wanted to eliminate the fragmentation families often experience when their child needs multiple therapies—instead offering coordinated care where physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, behavior analysts, and social workers communicate regularly about each child's progress. Rose also prioritized creating community spaces where families can connect and children can learn social skills alongside therapeutic development.

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Your speech-language pathologist/speech therapist may recommend that your child could benefit from AAC, but what is AAC?

Speech Language Pathology Pediatric Speech therapy Chicago

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is a term used to encompass all forms of communication, other than oral speech, to express thoughts, needs, wants, and ideas. We all use AAC to communicate throughout the day. We may use gestures and facial expressions to supplement our oral speech. We may email, text, or even use emojis, as additional ways to communicate in a variety of environments.

Children and adults with speech-language difficulties rely on AAC to supplement speech or provide more functional communication. AAC users should never stop using what verbal communication they have. Instead, AAC should enhance your child’s existing communication.

Speech Language Pathology Pediatric Speech therapy Chicago 1

Children in speech-language treatment can benefit from a variety of AAC options. Most often the speech therapist will implement manual sign language, picture icons, communication boards/books, or speech generating devices (SGDs).  Speech generating devices allow your child to use picture symbols, letters, or words to communicate with an electronic device. Research shows more positive outcomes with children who receive speech-language intervention in the early years of development, so it is important to think about your child’s use of age-appropriate concepts and word combinations if they have limited oral speech.

AAC Myths:

* My child is too young to use AAC.

* AAC will keep my child from talking.

* I must try low technology AAC before providing a speech generating device.

* If my child has some speech, then AAC is not needed.

* If my child can express basic needs, then AAC is not needed.

* AAC can only be implemented by the speech-language pathologist (SLP).

Talk to a speech-language pathologist today at Chicago Pediatric Therapy & Wellness Center if you are having concerns with your child’s expressive language skills!

 

 

 

DeThorne, L., Johnson, C., Walder, L., & Mahurin-Smith, J. (2009). When “Simon Says” doesn’t work: Alternatives to imitation for facilitating early speech development. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 18

Schlosser, R., & Wendt, O., (2008). Effects of augmentative and alternative communication intervention on speech production in children with autism: A systematic review. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 17, 212-230.

Millar, D., Light, J., & Schlosser, R. (2006). The impact of augmentative and alternative communication intervention on the speech production of individuals with developmental disabilities: A research review. Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research, 49, 248

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