A scoping review of augmentative and alternative communication use in children with childhood apraxia of speech

Prior research has highlighted the positive impact of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) on speech and language development for children who cannot use speech alone. However, little is known about AAC use specifically for children with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). Therefore, the purpose of this scoping review was to identify and synthesize twenty years of research investigating AAC use in children with CAS and determine gaps. A systematic search strategy was employed to identify relevant literature in five databases. Abstract and full-text screening was conducted by all authors. Forward and backward citation chaining was completed resulting in a total of 11 eligible studies. Study results were synthesized within three categories: therapy focused, profile and perspective studies. All studies highlighted that early AAC intervention may optimize communication outcomes for children with CAS. Therapy focused studies demonstrated that AAC fulfills a complementary role in the management of CAS. Perspective studies demonstrated that there are a variety of factors which influenced a SLP's decision making surrounding AAC implementation for children with CAS. While prior systematic reviews have demonstrated the positive impact of AAC on speech production broadly, this review uniquely focuses on AAC use in children with CAS.