Developing and Evaluating Evidence-Based Practice for Users of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

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Topic Description

Post Date: January 26, 2026

Expiration Date: January 26, 2027

Over 5 million people in the US with acquired, developmental, and degenerative communication disorders are not able to rely on spoken language as their primary means of communication some or all of the time. This number includes individuals with cerebral palsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and autistic individuals who are minimally verbal/non-speaking. These individuals have the potential to benefit from augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). AAC includes a wide array of multi-modal communication approaches to support spoken language or are used instead of spoken language ranging from no-tech/low-tech (e.g., gestures, printed communication boards) to high-tech options (e.g., speech-generating devices).

The purpose of this highlighted topic is to encourage researchers to collaborate with users of AAC using either community-engaged research or user-centered design. The objective is to develop and evaluate improvements in measurement and evidence-based practice in AAC.

Needed improvements in measurement include:

  • Accurate assessment and tracking of communication outcomes in AAC users
  • Improved matching and tailoring of AAC options to meet the needs of each individual
  • Assessing broad outcomes, such as well-being and quality of life, as well as participant perspectives on clinical approaches

Needed improvements in evidence-based practice should involve:

  • Effective communication between AAC users and communication partners
  • Invested parties (e.g., AAC users, caregivers, speech-language pathologists) to set up, maintain, and adapt AAC to meet each user’s needs

The list below includes examples of potential topics of research in AAC:

  • Create precision measurement tools for assessing users’ AAC needs that incorporate abilities, strengths, and needs
  • Design measurement tools that can be frequently administered to capture changing communication needs
  • Determine subgroups of minimally verbal/non-speaking individuals with autism based on communication profiles and develop appropriate interventions by subgroup
  • Construct and test an assessment that can be used to tailor AAC options to meet the needs of a user across the lifespan and the range of contexts in which they communicate
  • Develop and evaluate an assessment that determines and tracks meaningful outcomes for an individual AAC user over time to ensure the user’s communication needs continue to be met
  • Identify barriers limiting access to AAC through partnerships with agencies/clinicians providing services to AAC users, and develop and evaluate effective implementation strategies to reduce/eliminate these barriers
  • Develop and assess effective literacy instruction for AAC users to support growth in advanced literacy skills required for higher education and employment, and build an AAC system that supports this growth
  • Assess current unmet communication needs of AAC users and caregivers using mixed methods and develop and evaluate an effective clinical training program to address these unmet needs

Central Scientific Contact:
Lisa Kopf, PhD
[email protected]

Participating ICOs

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

Examples of potential research topics:

  • Create tools for assessing users’ AAC needs that account for abilities and strengths
  • Design tools that can be frequently administered to capture changing communication needs
  • Determine subgroups of minimally verbal/non-speaking individuals based on communication profiles and develop appropriate subgroup interventions
  • Construct an assessment for tailoring AAC options to meet the communication needs of a user across the lifespan and a range of contexts
  • Partner with agencies/clinicians to identify barriers limiting access to AAC and develop implementation strategies to reduce/eliminate these barriers
  • Design instruction for AAC users for growth of advanced literacy skills required for higher education and employment, and build an AAC system that supports this growth
  • Use mixed methods analysis of current unmet communication needs of AAC users/caregivers and develop a clinical training program to address these needs
ICO Scientific Contact:
Lisa Kopf, PhD
[email protected]

Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH)

The NIH Office of Autoimmune Disease Research in the Office of Research on Women’s Health (OADR-ORWH) areas of interest include:

  • Develop and evaluate precision tools for assessing and tracking communication needs and outcomes in women AAC users, considering their abilities, strengths, and well-being across the lifespan.
  • Advance women's health research across the life course, translating findings into practical benefits for patients and providers.
  • Accelerating scientific discovery in diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cures and enhancing health for people with autoimmune disease.

This office does not award grants. Applications must be relevant to the objectives of at least one of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers listed in this topic. 

ICO Scientific Contact:
Elena Gorodetsky, M.D., Ph.D.
[email protected]

Victoria Shanmugam, MBBS, MRCP, FACR, CCD
[email protected]

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