Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC) for Children
in West Bloomfield, MI

Every child deserves a way to communicate. For some children, speaking may be difficult or impossible, but that doesn’t mean they can’t express themselves.

AAC provides tools and strategies that help children share their thoughts, needs, and emotions in ways that work best for them. If you’re wondering whether AAC could help your child, Gigi’s Kids Speech & Language Therapy is here to guide you.

What Is Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC)?

Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC) refers to any method of communication that helps a person express themselves beyond spoken words. It can augment (add to or increase) your child’s ability to communicate, or it can be an alternative (secondary) communication method when speech is challenging.

Many parents ask, “Will AAC keep my child from talking?” This is a very common question, and a valid concern, we receive from parents when we first discuss AAC options. Research has demonstrated that using AAC does NOT limit a child’s ability to learn to talk, in fact AAC has been shown to do the opposite! Many children make great gains in their speech because an AAC system helps them build functional communication skills.

Types of AAC Devices & Methods

AAC comes in many forms, with or without using technology. The goal is to allow children to find the best way to express themselves. Some common AAC methods include:

Communication Boards and Books: Using images, symbols, or written words to facilitate communication
Speech-Generating Devices (SGDs): Electronic devices that produce spoken words when buttons are pressed
Text-Based AAC: Using typing or writing to communicate, often with a digital device
Sign Language: Using a defined system of hand movements, facial expressions, and body language to communicate with others (e.g., American Sign Language or baby sign language).

Who Can Benefit from Using AAC?

AAC can help children with a variety of conditions that affect their ability to speak. Your child may benefit from AAC if they are Deaf and Hard of Hearing, or if they have a condition such as:

Autism Spectrum Disorder
Apraxia of Speech
Cerebral Palsy
Down Syndrome
Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Speech delays or disorders

How Our Experts Help Your Child with AAC

At Gigi’s Kids, our experienced speech-language pathologists will assess your child’s unique communication needs to determine the best AAC method or device for them. We work closely with families to ensure AAC is used effectively in daily life.

Our therapy sessions focus on:

Identifying the right AAC method or device for your child
Teaching children how to use AAC to communicate clearly and confidently
Providing parent training so families can support AAC use at home
Helping children build language and social skills alongside their AAC system

What Our Families Are Saying

She truly cares about my daughter, and it shows

"Amanda has been an amazing SLP during an unprecedented time! She truly cares about my daughter and it shows. She works hard to cater to her passions and interests and uses these during their sessions. Amanda is incredibly creative and effortful when planning the sessions. She uses a schedule to help my daughter plan for what she will do each time they meet. She is cognizant have her limitations and individualizes each appointment for her and her current goals. My daughter looks forward to seeing her and asks each day if she has Speech!" –Michelle

I can't sing her praises enough

“Amanda has been so amazing for our family! She is really invested in our son's success and it shows through the progress we have seen. Also, it shows through our son's excitement to go see her every week. He is constantly hitting his goals and she continues to challenge him at the next goal. She also is great resource for parents for things to work on at home and ways to model that make sense. I can't sing her praises enough.” –Lauren

Our family is incredibly blessed to have Amanda in our lives!

"Amanda has changed my son’s life in the best ways possible. She is compassionate, creative, kind, patient, understanding, persistent, resourceful, the list goes on and on. She is truly a genuine person with a heart of pure gold. She goes the extra mile to make sure that my son is not only learning but actually enjoys his sessions and continued requests to work more. Amanda has taught my son how to use communication skills in a multitude of ways and has helped our entire family learn how to communicate better with him to further improve his speech. Our family is incredibly blessed to have Amanda in our lives!" –Ghidaa

Schedule an Evaluation for Your Child

If you think your child could benefit from AAC, we’re here to help. Call us at (248) 735-8080 to schedule an evaluation today and learn how AAC can empower your child to communicate with others freely.