Parents’ Perceptions and Experiences with Their Children’s Use of Augmentative/Alternative Communication: A Systematic Review and Qualitative Meta-Synthesis

Carmen Berenguer, Eva Rosa Martínez, Simona De Stasio and Inmaculada Baixauli
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Carmen Berenguer: Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology and ERI-Lectura, University of Valencia, Avda. Blasco Ibáñez, 21, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Eva Rosa Martínez: Department of Basic Psychology and ERI-Lectura, University of Valencia, Avda. Blasco Ibáñez, 21, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Simona De Stasio: Department of Human Studies, LUMSA University, 00193 Rome, Italy
Inmaculada Baixauli: Campus Capacitas, Catholic University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 13, 1-19

Abstract: Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) consists of any method of communicating that supplements or completely substitutes oral and/or written language when it is impaired. Therefore, it enables children with complex communication needs to develop their full communicative potential. However, despite the many benefits of AAC and its widespread use, several review studies have underscored the problems faced by parents and children who use AAC in their daily lives. The general objective of this systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis is to provide a complete overview of parents’ experiences and perceptions with their children’s use of AAC. Specifically, it aimed to identify common themes and subthemes of interest and to analyze the research quality of the selected studies. An exhaustive literature search was carried out using different electronic databases. Nineteen studies were included, involving 297 parents. A thematic synthesis was undertaken. Three main themes and nine subthemes were identified: service support (accessibility, providers and coordination); characteristics of AAC systems (usability and acceptability, features, cost and funding); and integration of AAC in daily life (family, school, social and community). Findings raise a need for more services that support children with complex communication deficits in different contexts, more functional use of AAC systems at school and in real-world situations, as well as service assistance over an extended time period.

Keywords: metasynthesis; thematic analysis; parents’ perspectives; augmentative and/or alternative communication; qualitative (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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