Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40439166›Full record

ReviewAugmentative and alternative communication (Baltimore, Md. : 1985)2025

External challenges for individuals who need or use AAC who are learning language: lived experiences, key research findings, and future directions.

Christine Holyfield, Janice Light, Dana Nieder, Jamie Preece

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Augmentative and alternative communication (Baltimore, Md. : 1985), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. An Examination of Context-Aware Augmentative and Alternative Communication with Automated Response Options for Academic Communication from Autistic Children.Journal of special education technology : a publication of Utah State University, the Association for Special Education Technology, and the Technology and Media Division of the Council for Exceptional Children · 2026
    Article
  5. Review
  6. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Christine HolyfieldThe University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-1057-5599
Janice LightThe Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-4449-798X
Dana NiederNew York, NY, USA.
Jamie PreeceRotherham, United Kingdom.

Funding

ACL HHS 90REGE0014
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Language skills are essential to effective communication, but learning language is by no means a simple process for individuals with developmental disabilities who cannot rely on speech alone to be heard and understood. Research demonstrates that augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) interventions positively impact development across language domains (e.g., pragmatics, semantics, morphosyntax) and may also benefit speech production. However, these gains can only be realized if people have timely access to effective AAC and have meaningful opportunities to interact with others. This paper integrates the lived experiences of individuals who need or use AAC and their families with key research findings to highlight external challenges that may negatively impact language learning, including delays in access to AAC, service providers' limited competencies in AAC, the lack of fit between AAC systems and user needs and strengths, limited opportunities for social interaction, and communication partners with limited experience and training in AAC. Future research, technology development, and policy change are urgently required to reduce these barriers. People who need or use AAC and their families must be involved as equitable partners in this work to ensure that it addresses their most pressing needs and results in meaningful and valued outcomes.

Indexed as

Communication Devices for People with DisabilitiesCommunication DisordersLanguage DevelopmentHumansSocial InteractionAACexternal barriersfuture researchlanguage developmenttechnology development

Identifiers

PMID40439166
PMCPMC13126768

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.