# How is a child's progress measured in AAC? Canonical: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-is-a-child-s-progress-measured-in-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac Publisher: Pinnacle Blooms Network / Bharath Healthcare Laboratories Private Limited Progress in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is measured by how much, how often and how independently a child communicates across home, school and everyday life — counting the range of messages and communication purposes, growing independence with the device, and understanding by others, all tracked against personalised goals. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. *When your child speaks through a board, a button or a tablet, progress is real — and there are clear, caring ways to see it grow.* ## In short A child's progress in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is measured not by whether they start talking, but by **how much, how often and how independently they communicate** using their AAC system. A speech and language therapist tracks meaningful, everyday signs — the number of different messages a child sends, the range of reasons they communicate (requesting, commenting, refusing, asking), how independently they navigate their device or board, and how well others understand them. Progress is measured against your child's own starting point and personalised goals, reviewed regularly with you. ## What progress actually looks like AAC progress is gathered through observation, simple data-keeping and review across the settings where your child lives and learns: - **More messages, more often** — the therapist looks at how frequently your child initiates communication and how many *different* words or symbols they use spontaneously (not just when prompted). - **Wider communication purposes** — early on a child may mainly request. Real growth shows when they also comment ("look!"), refuse, greet, ask questions and share feelings. - **Growing independence** — moving from needing hand-over-hand or prompting towards finding and combining symbols themselves, and stringing two or more symbols together. - **Communicating with more people, in more places** — at home, school and with grandparents, not only in the therapy room. - **Repair and persistence** — does your child try again, or another way, when not understood? This is a powerful sign of confidence. - **Comprehension and engagement** — understanding others, and showing that the device is genuinely *theirs* — a voice, not a chore. Importantly, AAC does **not** stop or slow spoken language; research consistently shows it often supports speech to emerge. So measuring progress is about communication overall, in whatever modality works for your child. ## How goals are set and reviewed The therapist works with you to set small, observable goals personalised to your child — then reviews them at regular intervals, adjusting the vocabulary on the device, the symbols available and the strategies taught at home and school. You are part of every review, because the people around a child are the ones who make AAC come alive. ## The Pinnacle way AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional — never from an app or online form. Our [speech therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/top-speech-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) team builds a personalised AAC plan and tracks progress through a clinician-administered [structured assessment](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) reviewed with you. Explore how Pinnacle supports communication for every child at [our home](/). ## Trusted sources American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) guidance on AAC and goal-setting; WHO ICD-11 framework for communication functioning; American Academy of Pediatrics family resources (HealthyChildren.org). **Next step —** Want a clear picture of your child's communication growth? [Book an assessment with a Pinnacle speech and language clinician](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/top-speech-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate). This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. ## Sources - ASHA — Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC): https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/aac/ - AAP — HealthyChildren.org family resources: https://www.healthychildren.org - WHO ICD-11: https://icd.who.int ## Connected topics and perspectives - Therapies: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/therapies - Parent: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/parent - Communication: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/domain/communication - Support: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/intent/support - Plan: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/lifecycle/plan - Speech Therapy: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/route/speech-therapy - Family Empowerment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/empowerment/family_empowerment ## Related question paths ### Understand the subject - At what age can a child start augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/at-what-age-can-a-child-start-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac - How does AAC help a child develop?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-does-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac-help-a-child-develop - Is AAC backed by research evidence?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac-backed-by-research-evidence - What is augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac - Which children benefit most from augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/which-children-benefit-most-from-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac ### Explore therapy & support - What goals does augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) work on?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-goals-does-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac-work-on - Are there any risks or side effects of AAC?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/are-there-any-risks-or-side-effects-of-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac - Combining AAC With Other Therapies: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac-be-combined-with-other-therapies - Can augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) be done online?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac-be-done-online - How many AAC sessions does a child usually need?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-many-sessions-of-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac-does-a-child-usually-need - Is AAC usually one-on-one or in a group?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac-usually-one-on-one-or-in-a-group - What happens during AAC sessions?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-happens-during-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac-sessions - What techniques are used in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-techniques-are-used-in-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac - How can AAC help a child with Autism Spectrum?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac-help-a-child-with-autism-spectrum - How can AAC help a child with Cerebral Palsy?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac-help-a-child-with-cerebral-palsy - How AAC helps a child with Childhood Apraxia of Speech: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac-help-a-child-with-childhood-apraxia-of-speech - How AAC Helps a Child with Intellectual Disability: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac-help-a-child-with-intellectual-disability ### At home & in everyday life - How can I support AAC goals at home?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-support-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac-goals-at-home ### Follow progress - What progress can I expect from AAC?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-progress-can-i-expect-from-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac - What progress can a child with Intellectual Disability make with AAC?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-progress-can-a-child-with-intellectual-disability-make-with-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac - What progress can a child with autism make with AAC?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-progress-can-a-child-with-autism-spectrum-make-with-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac - What progress can a child with Speech and Language Delay make with AAC?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-progress-can-a-child-with-speech-and-language-delay-make-with-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac - What progress can a child with Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation make with AAC?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-progress-can-a-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-make-with-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac - How long does AAC take to show results?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-long-does-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac-take-to-show-results - What progress can a child with Cerebral Palsy make with AAC?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-progress-can-a-child-with-cerebral-palsy-make-with-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac - What progress can a child with Childhood Apraxia of Speech make with AAC?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-progress-can-a-child-with-childhood-apraxia-of-speech-make-with-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac ### Choose and access care - How do I find a good AAC provider for my child?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-do-i-find-a-good-provider-of-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac-for-my-child - What does AAC typically cost, and what affects the price?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac-typically-cost-and-what-affects-the-price - What qualifications should an AAC therapist have?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-qualifications-should-a-therapist-providing-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac-have