Assessment Tools

Communication Matrix

The Communication Matrix is a free, online assessment tool that can be used to document a child's communicative progress over time. It can be a helpful tool to use when determining appropriate AAC supports.

Example Profiles: a child who is an emergent communicator (communicating with body in subtle ways), a child who has consistent, yet unique ways in which they communicate, a child who is on the cusp of an AAC trial (in order to make sure what child is currently communicating is included in AAC system), a child with combined vision and hearing loss

Link to Communication Matrix Website

AX User Communication Inventory Rowland 8 pg 080522.pdf

Communication Supports Inventory- Children and Youth

This tool is designed to support goal writing for SLPs working with children who are using AAC. It also helps document the ways in which a child's communication challenges impact participation and any environmental barriers that may negatively impact AAC use.

Pragmatics-Profile-for-AAC

Pragmatics Profile

The Pragmatics Profile for People Who Use AAC is an interview format used to gather information about HOW a child communicates in a range of environments and with different communication partners. It includes four parts:

Establish Context and Motivation
Reasons to Communicate and Reactions to Communication
Contextual Variation
Participation in Conversation

Example Profiles: a child with a diagnosis ASD, a child who is suspected of having ASD, a child who demonstrates different communication skills across settings

Communication Samples

Early Communication Sample.doc

Early Communication Sample

This communication sample uses the earliest communicative functions on Communication Matrix. This sample may be particularly helpful if a team is hoping to complete the Communication Matrix with an emergent communicator.

Example Profile: a child who has combined vision and hearing loss and is in levels 1-3 on the Communication Matrix.

Communication Sample Example

Communication Sample

Observing the ways in which a child communicates during daily activities can inform the AAC process greatly. This document supports an SLP to observe the following critical elements:

Communicative context
Communication partner
Mode of communication
Message communicated
Communication partner response
Independence level
Communicative function

Example Profiles: a child who communicates in subtle ways (using body, gesture, voice, etc), a child who has challenging behaviors for which we'd like to determine what those behaviors are communicating

Communication Dictionaries

Communication Dictionary- Functions 10.3.23.docx

Expressive Communication Dictionary

This document allows a team to document the ways in which a child uses their voice, body movements, gestures, signs, words and facial expressions to convey a variety of communicative functions. The third column "What We Do In Response" documents how the team will reinforce and shape a child's communication in order to be more symbolic and conventional over time.

Communication Partner Observations

Adult Communication Sample.docx

Adult Communication Sample

This document allows the adults to analyze their own communication to determine the ways in which their communicative behavior either enhance or hinder an emergent communicators communication.

Example Profile: use this when preparing to provide feedback to team members re: communication partner strategies

Partner-Person Interaction Checklist (1).docx

Communication Partner Interaction Observation Checklist

This is a great observational tool for communication partners by Gail Van Tatenhove. It outlines a lot of great skills for communication partners

person-centred-communication-partner-checklist.pdf

Person-Centered Communication Partner Checklist

This checklist helps a team identify strategies that best support an AAC user.

Interest Profiles

Play Routines Interest Profile.docx

Play Routines Interest Profile

This Play Routines Profile was created using the Hanen People Games as a guide. This profile is often used with children with ASD to determine what interactive play is most interesting and motivating for them.

Example Profiles: a child who has an ASD diagnosis and limited scope of interests, a child who prefers people play rather than toy play, a child with whom you are trying to increase reciprocal play

Interest- Play Profile.docx

Interest/Play Profile

This is an observational tool. Typically it is a ten minute classroom observation during which time the observer purely records what kind of play the child naturally explores and gravitates to.

Example Profiles: a child who has an ASD diagnosis who has a limited scope of interests, a child who has very specific play preferences and you are trying to develop a plan for expanded play, a child you are trying to determine "reinforcers" for

Sensory Activity Interest Profile.docx

Interest Profile by Sense

This tool was created for children with complex sensory systems (either a child with combined vision and hearing loss or a child with significant sensory preferences). The tool offers an extensive list of toys/activities that tap into specific sensory systems.

Example Profiles: a child with combined vision and hearing loss, a child with Cerebral Palsy who has difficult time interacting directly with toys

Participation Matrix

Communication Participation Matrix.doc

This Communication Participation Matrix focuses on communication participation during preschool daily routines and activities.

Communication Participation Matrix

AAC Ongoing Assessments and Goal Writing Tools

DAGG 3.pdf

DAGG-3

Dynamic AAC Goals Grid is an assessment tool used to measure a child's AAC skills in the areas of linguistic, operational, social and strategic competency. It is a helpful tool to use to create IEP goals and measure AAC process

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