A new study commissioned by Dynavox Group demonstrated that the use of high-tech augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) can enormously impact the functionality and quality of life for both the AAC users and their caregivers.
“Exploring the Benefits of Assistive Communication” was described as a health economic study conducted in the United States by Augur and a Boston College team led by Diana Bowser, professor and associate dean for research and integrated science at the William F. Connell School of Nursing.
“The findings highlight clear value at both the individual and societal level,” Dynavox said in a June 30 news announcement. “High-tech AAC improves users’ quality of life by 65% and pays for itself more than three times over, with a return on investment of 3.3x, demonstrating both the human and economic benefits of access to assistive communication.”
Of study participants, 18 AAC consumers and/or caregivers who used a range of high-tech AAC brands underwent in-depth interviews held by professionals. An additional 1,077 participants, both AAC users and their caregivers, did online interviews.
The four most common diagnoses of AAC users participating in the study were autism (42%), cerebral palsy (22%), intellectual disability (19%) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) (15%). Other participants listed stroke, Rett syndrome and Angelman syndrome as the diagnoses that led to AAC use.
Overall, study authors noted that the results “show stronger communication, greater confidence and reduced frustration in daily life.” The study said 72% of participants can better express their desires and preferences, while 69% feel more encouraged to communicate, 63% report reduced anxiety and frustration, and 54% said they can learn new things and develop new skills thanks to AAC access. And 53% said they were better able to express health-related needs.
Specifically for cerebral palsy, 75% of respondents said AAC encourages them to communicate; 64% said they can communicate beyond basic needs; and 57% said they are more active participants in social situations. As for respondents living with ALS or caring for someone with ALS, 84% said they can communicate with others digitally, 75% said they can better express their health needs and issues, and 66% can communicate independently, without relying on others’ interpretations.
Caregivers also reported benefits of AAC use, with 68% saying the use of AAC results in less guesswork and fewer misunderstandings, and 67% saying they can better understand and meet user needs thanks to AAC.
“As someone who has worked alongside individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication for many years, it is encouraging to see research that reinforces what many families, educators and clinicians have witnessed firsthand,” said Elizabeth W. Stewart, Ph.D., ATP, Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Special Education at The University of Alabama. “Access to communication opens doors to education, employment, relationships, healthcare and self-advocacy. These findings highlight that investing in augmentative and alternative communication benefits individuals, families and society.”
“This study reinforces what we see every day: when people have access to high-tech assistive communication, it changes what’s possible, helping individuals participate more fully in life while also delivering clear value for families, systems and society,” said Tara Rudnicki, president North America, Tobii Dynavox.
Image courtesy Tobii Dynavox.
