Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC) Therapy in Perth

What is AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication)?

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) refers to tools, systems, and strategies that support communication for people who have difficulty using speech alone. AAC can supplement speech (augmentative) or provide an alternative way to communicate (alternative).

AAC can support communication across speaking, understanding, reading, writing, and social interaction, depending on the person’s needs. AAC can be used by children and adults with communication differences related to developmental disability, acquired brain injury, stroke, neurological conditions, or physical impairments.

At Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health, our speech pathologists work with individuals and families to identify AAC options that support functional, everyday communication and participation.

Who Can Benefit from AAC?

AAC may be helpful for people who:

• Have limited speech, unclear speech, or inconsistent speech

• Understand more than they can express verbally

• Experience fatigue, motor challenges, or progressive conditions that impact speech

• Need a reliable way to communicate at school, home, work, and in the community
  
  

AAC may support (but is not limited to) people with:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

• Cerebral palsy

• Developmental Language Disorder or Global Developmental Delay

• Intellectual disability

• Childhood Apraxia of Speech (when speech is very limited and communication needs are high)

• Stroke-related communication difficulties (including aphasia)

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

• Motor Neurone Disease (MND/ALS) and other progressive neurological conditions

AAC can be used temporarily (e.g., while skills develop or during recovery) or long-term as an ongoing communication method.

Types of AAC

AAC ranges from simple, low-tech options to high-tech electronic systems. The best option depends on the person’s motor skills, cognition, vision/hearing, communication goals, environments, and support network.

Low-Tech AAC (No electronics)

• Gesture and facial expression

• Key word sign / sign-supported communication (when appropriate)

• Picture boards, communication books, and visual choice systems

• Written words, alphabet boards, or partner-assisted scanning (when suitable)
  
  

High-Tech AAC (Electronic systems)

• Speech-generating devices (SGDs): devices that speak when the user selects symbols or types messages

• Tablet-based AAC apps: app-based communication systems that can be customised to the individual

• Access methods: switch access, head pointing, or alternative access options for people with motor challenges

• Eye-gaze systems: used when a person has reliable eye control and limited hand/arm movement, allowing selection of words or symbols with their eyes
  
  

How AAC Therapy Works

AAC therapy is focused on making communication work in real life—not just in the clinic.

Our speech pathologists typically support:

• Assessment: understanding current communication, strengths, and barriers across environments (home, school, community)

• Selecting an AAC system: matching the AAC approach to the person’s goals, abilities, and daily communication needs

• Customisation: setting up vocabulary and pages that are meaningful and functional (not just “labels”)

• Teaching and practice: building skills for the AAC user and communication partners (family, carers, educators)

• Ongoing review: updating vocabulary and access as needs change, and supporting carryover into everyday routines

Where relevant and with consent, we can also support collaboration with schools, support coordinators, plan managers, and other providers to help align goals and implementation across settings.

Benefits of AAC

AAC can support:

• Functional communication: expressing wants/needs, choices, opinions, questions, and feelings

• Participation and inclusion: joining conversations at home, school, work, and in the community

• Reduced frustration: improving the ability to be understood and reducing communication breakdowns

• Language development: for many children, AAC can support understanding and use of language (including vocabulary, grammar, and early literacy foundations)

• Confidence and autonomy: supporting self-advocacy and independence in decision-making
  
  

Common Myths About AAC

Myth 1: “AAC will stop my child from talking.”
Reality: Research indicates AAC does not prevent speech development. For many people, AAC supports language development and may complement speech progress where speech is possible.

Myth 2: “AAC is only for people who will never speak.”
Reality: AAC can be used short-term or long-term. Some people use AAC as a bridge while speech improves; others use it as their primary communication method.

Myth 3: “AAC is too complicated.”
Reality: AAC can be introduced in a simple, functional way, then expanded over time. The goal is a system the person and their communication partners can use confidently in everyday life.

AAC in Schools and Everyday Life

AAC works best when used consistently across settings:

• In school: supporting participation in classroom routines, peer interactions, curriculum access, and learning tasks

• At home: supporting choice-making, routines, play, relationships, and behaviour regulation through communication

• In the community: supporting independence in shops, appointments, activities, and social settings

We can provide guidance and practical strategies for families, carers, and (with consent) educators to support AAC carryover.

Access AAC Therapy in Perth

If you’re looking for AAC support in Perth, including Malaga and Noranda, our speech pathology team can help with assessment, system selection guidance, partner training, and practical implementation strategies to support communication in everyday life.

Contact Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health to book an AAC assessment and develop a clear, functional plan that supports communication, participation, and independence.

Speech Therapy Services We Provide

Paediatric Speech Therapy

• Paediatric speech therapy supports children with speech, language, communication, and early literacy needs using evidence-based and child-friendly approaches. Sessions may be play-based (especially for younger children), while still being structured and goal-directed.

• Common areas we support include:

  1. Speech sound development (clarity and intelligibility)

  2. Language delays and developmental language disorder

  3. Social communication support

  4. AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) where appropriate

  5. Early literacy foundations (e.g., phonological awareness)

Adult Speech Therapy

• Adult speech therapy supports adults with communication and swallowing needs related to neurological conditions, injury, medical events, or age-related changes. Therapy is practical, functional, and designed around everyday participation (home, work, community).

• Common areas we support include:

  1. Communication changes after stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or neurological illness

  2. Dysarthria and motor speech changes

  3. Cognitive-communication difficulties (attention, memory, organisation impacting communication)

  4. Voice therapy where indicated

  5. Dysphagia support and mealtime strategies

NDIS Speech Therapy Services

• NDIS speech therapy is available for self-managed and plan-managed participants. Therapy may focus on functional communication goals, speech clarity, social interaction and participation, and AAC support where required. We collaborate with participants, families, support coordinators, schools, and relevant providers to support practical, meaningful outcomes.

Speech Therapy for Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia)

• Dysphagia (swallowing) support helps when swallowing difficulties affect hydration, nutrition, safety and confidence with eating and drinking. Our speech pathologists can complete clinical assessments (as appropriate), provide strategies for safer swallowing, recommend targeted exercises when indicated, and support shared-care referral pathways with GPs/ENT/medical teams when needed.

Speech Therapy – What We Can Help With

Speech pathologists (speech therapists) support children and adults with a wide range of speech, language, voice, fluency, and swallowing needs. Below is a practical overview of the common areas we assess and treat at Palms.

Speech Sound & Motor Speech

• Articulation Disorders: Difficulty producing specific speech sounds clearly (e.g., /s/, /r/, /l/).

• Phonological Disorders: Patterns/rules of sound errors that reduce intelligibility (e.g., fronting, final consonant deletion).

• Apraxia of Speech: Motor planning/programming difficulty; speech errors may be inconsistent and speech can sound “choppy.”

• Dysarthria: Speech changes due to weakness, tone or coordination differences affecting speech muscles.

Language

• Expressive Language Disorder: Difficulty using words/sentences to share ideas, tell stories, ask questions, or use grammar accurately.

• Receptive Language Disorder: Difficulty understanding spoken/written language, following instructions, or processing complex language.

• Mixed Expressive–Receptive Language Disorder: Difficulties with both understanding and expressing language.

• Developmental Delays: Support when speech and language milestones are developing more slowly than expected.

• Aphasia: Language difficulty often after stroke/brain injury, affecting speaking, understanding, reading and/or writing.

Voice

• Hoarseness or Strained Voice: Raspy, breathy, strained or unreliable voice; can relate to vocal load, inflammation, reflux, or vocal fold changes.

• Vocal Cord Paralysis: One or both vocal folds do not move normally, impacting voice, breathing and/or swallowing.

• Resonance Disorders: Speech that sounds overly nasal or “blocked”; may be structural, neuromuscular and/or learned.

• Gender Affirming Voice and Speech Therapy: Support to align voice and communication with gender identity using safe, evidence-based voice techniques.

• Psychogenic Voice Disorders and Conversion Disorder: Voice changes linked to psychological factors; therapy supports voice recovery and functional communication.

Fluency

• Stuttering: Disruptions to speech flow (repetitions, prolongations, blocks) that can impact confidence and participation.

• Cluttering: Fast or irregular speech rate that can reduce clarity and organisation of spoken messages.

Social Communication

•  Pragmatic Language Disorder: Support for conversation skills, turn-taking, topic maintenance, inference, and interpreting non-verbal cues.

Swallowing & Feeding

• Dysphagia (Swallowing Disorders): Assessment and strategies to support safe swallowing and reduce aspiration risk (often alongside GP/ENT/medical teams when needed).

Hearing & Listening

• Hearing Impairments: Therapy to support listening, speech clarity, language development, and communication strategies in partnership with audiology where required.

Neurological Conditions

• Speech Therapy for Neurological Conditions: Communication and swallowing rehabilitation for stroke, TBI, Parkinson’s disease, MS, dementia and other neurological conditions.

Early Literacy & Phonological Awareness

• Phonological Awareness: Therapy targeting sound awareness skills that underpin reading/spelling (rhyming, blending, segmenting, manipulation).

Post-Surgical Head & Neck Rehab

• Post‑Surgical Rehabilitation for Laryngectomy and Head and Neck Cancer: Multidisciplinary support for communication, swallowing and function after surgery/treatment (in shared care with your treating team).

Why Choose Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health for Speech Therapy?

Experienced Speech Pathologists: Skilled in paediatric and adult communication and swallowing support.

NDIS Provider (self- and plan-managed): Therapy is aligned to participant goals and everyday function.

Family-Centred Approach: We involve parents, carers, and supports where appropriate so strategies carry over into real life.

Collaborative, Multidisciplinary Care: We work alongside our broader allied health team when integrated support is beneficial.

Sensory Room & Kids Therapy Gym

Our sensory room and kids therapy gym can support therapy goals through a motivating, functional environment—particularly helpful for children who benefit from movement-based learning and sensory regulation strategies. These spaces may be used when clinically relevant to support engagement, attention, participation, and goal progress.

Australian Resources for AAC

For further information on AAC and communication support in Australia, visit the following resources:

Scope Australia – Communication & Inclusion Resource Centre: Information and support services for AAC users, families, and professionals. www.scopeaust.org.au

TherapyConnect – AAC: Online AAC therapy services and resources for individuals and families in Australia.
www.therapyconnect.amaze.org.au

AssistiveWare (AAC software and apps): A global leader in AAC apps, including Proloquo2Go.
www.assistiveware.com

Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA): Support and advocacy for children and young people with disabilities, including AAC resources.
www.cyda.org.au

The Australian Communication Exchange (ACE): Supports people with communication difficulties through accessible communication technology.
www.aceinfo.net.au

Important disclaimer: This webpage contains general information only and is not intended to be relied upon as personal clinical advice. While we aim to keep information accurate and up to date, it may not reflect the most current research or your individual circumstances. Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health does not accept liability for decisions made based on this information without an individualised assessment by an appropriately qualified health professional. If you have concerns, please contact us to book an assessment or speak with your GP/medical team.