Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-1-2025
Journal
Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology
URL with Digital Object Identifier
https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2025.2454253
Abstract
Children with limited speech and motor function, frequently subsequent to neurodevelopmental conditions, often require augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Assessment practices to inform effective AAC interventions for these children can be challenging because of the considerable heterogeneity and range of factors that require consideration. An improved understanding of current assessment practices is imperative to optimize the provision of AAC. We conducted a scoping review to identify the assessment practices used with children with limited speech and motor function subsequent to neurodevelopmental conditions (birth to 18 years) within the Participation Model of AAC. In total, 171 assessment practices were identified. Almost all were related to access supports and barriers, of which the majority focused on children’s capabilities. Relatively few methods were identified to support the assessment of children’s participation patterns and communication needs or opportunity supports and barriers. Twenty-three percent of identified formal assessment practices required modifications to established procedures, and 10% could not be completed by all child participants. Identified assessment practices focused primarily on children and their abilities, whereas very few focused on external factors (e.g., environmental and opportunity supports and barriers). Additionally, identified assessment practices may inaccurately measure the abilities of children with limited speech and motor function, as the procedures often required modification.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Notes
This is an Accepted Manuscript version of an article accepted for publication in Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology. The published version is available at https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2025.2454253. It is deposited under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way.