There has been a lot of talk about autism in the news lately—and not just because it’s once again Autism Acceptance Month.

Unfortunately, much of the talk I’ve been hearing has involved people disagreeing about the root causes of autism and whether autism is becoming more prevalent or simply being reported at higher rates due to changes in the definition of the condition in the last couple of decades.

I think what’s really important to people with autism and their loved ones—namely, identifying, developing, and applying solutions so that those with autism can lead fuller, more productive and satisfying lives.

With that in mind, in today’s article I want to spend some time talking about one specific area of challenge faced by many people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)—the challenge of communication—and offer a solution that many more people with autism could be (and should be) taking advantage of.

Autism Acceptance Begins with Acknowledging the Challenges

People with autism do face a number of significant challenges, there’s no denying that. Most commonly, autism is characterized by difficulties in three main areas:

• Social interaction
• Verbal and nonverbal communication
• Repetitive or ritualistic behaviors

In some autistic adults, their behavior resembles that of people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Others may have impaired spoken language. Some may have difficulty making eye contact, understanding emotions, or reading social cues.

In fact, one of the major challenges in diagnosing someone with ASD is that it can look very different from one individual to the next.

But regardless of how the disorder manifests itself or the severity of any individual case, there’s no denying that ASD symptoms can pose serious challenges in everyday life.

Autism Communication Challenges: Digging Deeper

As I stated above, the challenges faced by people with autism vary greatly. This is definitely true in the area of communication, which is the area I’m most interested in as a Speech Language Pathologist.

But it’s not as simple as placing an individual with ASD at a particular point on the continuum from “fluent speaker” to “nonverbal.” There are nuances involved that many people aren’t aware of.

Last year during Autism Acceptance Month, I wrote a post (the same one linked above) that referenced an article written by Jamie, a brilliant digital accessibility specialist and software engineer from the UK, who is autistic. In that article, he talked about three key components of communication for those with ASD. They are:

• Ability: One element that could hold someone back from speaking is the ability to do so. For example, if you find yourself in Paris and you don’t know how to speak French, you don’t have the ability to speak and be understood in that context. People with ASD may sometimes have difficulty understanding what people mean by certain words or difficulty coming up with the right word for what they’re trying to say. With support, they can often come to understand these words and concepts, allowing them to better participate in discussions. In other words, if the ability to understand and communicate is the problem, the person needs to learn the skills necessary to communicate what needs to be said.
• Capability: Just because you have the ability to communicate, that doesn’t mean that you’re always capable of using that ability. For example, many people with ASD experience a significant drop-off in the capability to speak when they’re in an environment that’s noisy and hectic, such as a busy restaurant. The amount of input is simply overwhelming. Also, one-on-one conversations might be much easier than three-way conversations. In other words, the more complex the situation, the more their capability to communicate may be impacted.
• Capacity: This element has more to do with energy and focus than anything else. For many people with autism, communicating can take a lot of effort and will. This is different than capability. For example, I’ve said that someone’s capability to communicate is diminished when in a noisy, crowded restaurant. That doesn’t necessarily mean that they won’t be able to do so. But if their energy and focus is already low, they might not be able to “power through.” If their energy is up, on the other hand, they might be able to communicate well even in this challenging situation.

As you can see, there are a lot of nuances when it comes to communication for those with autism. A particular individual may or may not have the words at their disposal to communicate what they want to say. Or they may have the words, but the environment may be too stressful. Or they may simply be too low on energy and focus at a particular time to be able to communicate well.

The good news is that there are tools available that can help someone with ASD communicate more successfully, no matter the situation…

Enter AAC.

AAC for Adults with Autism

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) methods and devices offer options for individuals with ASD who have difficulty with verbal communication. AAC technology, particularly apps for nonverbal communication, can help bridge the communication gap and improve the quality of life for people with ASD by reducing isolation and frustration.

There are many types of AAC, ranging from simple picture boards to complex speech-generating devices. Some AAC tools are low-tech and require no special equipment, while others are high-tech and require specialized software and hardware.

AAC apps for nonverbal adults are becoming increasingly popular, as they can be used on one’s personal device like an iPhone or iPad, making them more portable than traditional “big box” AAC devices. They’re also much more affordable.

When looking for the best AAC apps, it’s important to consider the individual’s unique communication needs and abilities. Some apps may be more suited for children or individuals with specific types of communication difficulties. However, with the right app and support, AAC can be an invaluable tool for improving communication and social interactions for individuals with ASD.

Features of Effective AAC Apps

So, what should you look for in a speech assistance app? Effective AAC apps have certain features that make them useful for autistic adults and anyone else who has lost their ability to speak. These features include:

• Customizable vocabulary, which allows users to add words and phrases to the app that are specific to their needs and wants.
• Text to speech capability, which allows users to type in what they want to say, then hear the words and phrases they’ve selected spoken out loud.
• Visual supports, such as photos, which can help users understand the meaning of words and phrases. This is especially helpful for those who have issues with finding the right word at times.
• Customizable photo libraries that allow users to add their own meaningful photos to personalize the app. This ability to customize the app in various ways is a powerful feature and can make a huge difference in the life of someone with ASD.

As you can imagine, an app that includes all the features listed above could be a great help to someone with ASD who has communication challenges.

In terms of the ability/capability/capacity framework discussed previously, let’s look at how such an app might be helpful:

• For those who often have challenges with the ability to come up with the right word in a given situation, the photos in the app provide visual cues and prompts that can be a great memory aid.
• For those situations where a challenging environment is putting stress on the person’s capability to communicate, using either the recorded words and phrases tied to photos in the app or using the text to speech function takes one element of communicating—actually having to talk to the other person—out of the equation, reducing the cognitive load of the situation and increasing their capability to communicate.
• Even when the person with ASD has both the ability and the capability to communicate in a certain situation, using an app that speaks for them allows them to reserve their energy and focus—their capacity for communication—for a more challenging situation they know they’re going to have to face later in the day.

All in all, today’s communication apps for nonverbal adults are flexible tools that provide robust support for someone with ASD.

Choosing the Best Apps for Autism Communication

When looking for the best AAC apps for nonverbal communication, there are several factors to consider. It’s important to choose an app that’s easy to use, customizable, and has a variety of communication options. Here are some factors to consider when choosing the best AAC app:

• User interface: Look for an app with a clear and intuitive interface that is easy to navigate.
• Customization: Choose an app that allows you to customize visual supports such as photos and symbols, and text (words and phrases) to meet your individual communication needs.
• Voice options: Consider an app with a variety of voice options to choose from, including natural-sounding voices.
• Integration: Look for an app that integrates with other devices and software, such as social media platforms and email.

APP2Speak Checks All the Boxes

Now that we’ve discussed what the best AAC apps for adults with ASD look like in general, I’d like to humbly suggest our own app, APP2Speak as an option.

• APP2Speak has an intuitive user interface.
• It allows users to communicate by selecting photos or words on a customizable screen.
• It also includes a text-to-speech feature, which can vocalize the user’s selections (two different voices to choose from—you can even record a voice for the output).
• APP2Speak is easy to use and can be personalized to fit the user’s specific needs and preferences.

If I must say so myself, it really is one of the most useful, most affordable, and easiest to use apps on the market today.

Tune Out the Noise, Focus on Solutions

I started this article talking about all the hoopla in the news recently surrounding autism. Sometimes I get discouraged when I hear people focusing on and arguing about everything except the one thing that counts most—helping people with ASD live better, more connected, more successful lives.

Today’s communication apps for nonverbal adults are valuable tools for helping individuals with autism to do just that.

These apps can help adults with ASD to express themselves and communicate more effectively. Since you can load them into your iPhone or iPad, they’re portable enough to put in your purse, backpack, or pocket. And they’re quite affordable when compared to the clunky “big box” communication devices of the past.

APP2Speak is just one example of an effective AAC app that can be used by people with autism to communicate their thoughts and ideas by supporting their ability, capability, and capacity to communicate in a variety of situations.

Before selecting an AAC app, I recommend that you do your research and consult with a Speech Language Pathologist (like me) or other healthcare professional.

And if you’re considering APP2Speak, I’d love to show you how it works. You can schedule a demo on our Contact Page.