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Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) plays a crucial role in assisting individuals with communication challenges. Yet, numerous misconceptions surround its use and effectiveness. In this post, I want to debunk some common AAC myths and shed light on the truths of AAC. In this post, you’ll learn about: What AAC is, 11 common myths about AAC, The actual capabilities and scope of AAC, The damage caused when people believe these myths, and Some best practices for implementing AAC....

In the world of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), October holds a special place as AAC Awareness Month. This month-long event is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of communication for individuals who have lost their ability to speak, whether due to stroke, brain injury, ALS, or other conditions. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the definition of augmentative and alternative communication, explore the historical background of AAC Awareness Month, reveal the...

If you, a friend, or a family member has challenges communicating through speech, today’s technology provides you with many amazing options. Speech language pathologists assist such individuals with communication through a variety of methods, including arming them with appropriate Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) tools that allow them to express themselves and live full lives. One category of AAC tools is text to speech apps that allow people who can’t speak to type or select...

Today I wanted to talk a bit about one of the more common reasons people lose the ability to speak: having a laryngectomy as a result of throat cancer. As a speech language pathologist, I often work with people who have been diagnosed with laryngeal cancer and have had to have surgery as a result. In this post, I’ll talk about what laryngeal cancer is, how prevalent it is, and some of the ways people can regain their ability to communicate after surgery. What is Laryngeal Cancer? The larynx,...

Every once in a while, we get a story from an APP2Speak user that’s so good we just have to share it with you, so that’s what today’s blog post will be about. Before we share the story itself, here’s a little backstory: Joanna W., a college student in an Occupational Therapy Rehabilitation Techniques class at Pueblo Community College in Colorado reached out to me recently with an interesting request. She had been given a class project and was assigned a disability and a diagnosis (like stroke...

On August 30, 2009, at only 36 years old, Kelly Marsh, a successful businesswoman with roles at the Cincinnati Museum Center and, most recently, chief marketing officer at Thomas More College, suffered a debilitating stroke. One effect of the stroke was aphasia, a language disorder that affects a person's ability to communicate. In their memoir, Love Stroke (2016), Kelly and her husband Brad, a successful entrepreneur and businessman, chronicle the challenges the couple faced from both the...

In this Blog, I usually talk about a variety of specific issues faced by people who have challenges with their speech and the people who help them deal with these challenges (including caregivers and family members). But sometimes it’s good to step back and look at the bigger picture. And since May is Better Speech and Hearing Month (some organizations flip it around and call it Better Hearing and Speech Month, but I’m good with either title), this is as good a time as any! So, in this post,...

April is Autism Awareness month, so that makes this the perfect time to reflect on the question of how to support the communication needs of people on the autism spectrum. In this post, I’ll explore how AAC apps such as APP2Speak can benefit those on the spectrum who struggle with communication challenges. Common Signs of Autism in Adults First, let’s talk about autism in adults. While most people are diagnosed as being on the spectrum while they’re children, many young adults and adults,...

Nonverbal adults who have difficulty speaking and communicating due to conditions such as stroke, brain injury, or physical disabilities caused by surgery (for example, a laryngectomy), may find it challenging to return to work or engage in social interactions. For example: The inability to communicate effectively can lead to a lack of confidence, difficulty in expressing ideas, and frustration. These challenges can be especially pronounced in jobs that require a lot of communication, such as...

This past year, America was shocked when it learned that popular actor Bruce Willis had been diagnosed with aphasia. This came out when the family released a statement on social media that Willis would be stepping back from acting due to the condition. More recently, we’ve learned about an even more specific diagnosis for Willis’s condition—frontotemporal dementia. Again, Americans were shocked.  “Dementia?” they wondered. “Doesn’t that just affect people in their 80s and 90s?” Not really....