Barriers to Communication

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Communication is an essential life skill; one that is developing from the moment we are born.  It is an exchange of information.  A message must be sent and also received.  Just because we send a message does not mean we have communicated.  It must also be received (and understood!).  Without much effort most of us accomplish this basic daily task by opening our mouths, grabbing our smart phones or tablets, or sitting down at our computers.  We speak.  We text.  We email.  We blog.  We tweet.  We post.  If we are ‘old school’, we even handwrite a note.  What happens when these simple tasks we take for granted are not within one’s ability? 

Bam!  A communication road block.  

Thankfully, we are in an exciting age of technology with a growing field of Assistive Technology (AT) which provides alternative (or augmentative) means to communication.  Professionals working in the field of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) help develop specialized systems of communication that match the users’ unique needs and abilities.

AAC provides a ‘detour’ around communication road blocks.   

The age of “apps” has ushered in an abundance of communication tools within relatively easy access; along with excitement and frustration.  The field of AAC is a rapidly changing one.  And one where there is no one size fits all.  When you get a cut, the generally prescribed course of action is to bandage it.  If it is deep, then you get stitches.  If you develop an infection you get antibiotics.  With AAC there is no 1:1 relationship between communication difficulty and prescribed system.  A communication app that works for one non-verbal child diagnosed with ____ [insert diagnosis] will not work for all (or even most) non-verbal children with the same diagnosis.  It is through a process of feature matching and a supporting team that appropriate communication systems are identified and developed.  

There is also a bit of art mixed in with the science of developing communication systems.  Some AAC users require creative solutions.  This requires a team of professionals and caregivers willing and able to think outside of the proverbial box.  Every child has something to communicate.  Every child wants their message to be understood.

Increasing Awareness

Even with the expanding field of AAC and a growing set of communication systems available to augment or provide alternative communication to individuals struggling to be understood, there remain barriers to communication:

• lack of awareness of AAC and the possibilities available
• lack of access to appropriate and thorough evaluations
• lack of funding to obtain appropriate communication systems
• well-intentioned professionals who simply lack the knowledge and skills
• fear
• inability (or unwillingness) to “look outside the box”
• grief
• rejection of what works in favor of a preferred (but ineffective) method
• …and many, many more barriers

What do we do to reduce barriers to effective communication?  There is no easy answer.  It starts with education and increasing awareness.  And continues with an open and constructive dialogue.  

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