What goals does AAC work on?

When words are hard to come by, AAC gives your child a reliable way to be heard — and the goals it works on reach far beyond "speaking".

In short

AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) works towards one big goal — letting your child express themselves reliably — through pictures, symbols, signs, communication boards or speech-generating devices. Along the way it builds real, everyday skills: requesting what they want, making choices, joining conversations, growing vocabulary and connecting with the people they love. AAC does not stop a child from talking; the evidence shows it often supports spoken language to develop.

The goals AAC works on

• Functional requesting — asking for food, toys, help or a break, so frustration falls and your child learns their voice changes their world.
• Making choices and decisions — pointing or selecting between options builds early autonomy and self-advocacy.
• Expanding vocabulary and language — moving from single symbols to combining words, building sentences and richer meaning over time.
• Social connection — greeting, commenting, sharing, asking questions and taking turns with family, peers and teachers.
• Understanding (receptive language) — symbols and visual supports help a child grasp what others are saying, not just respond.
• Reducing distress behaviours — when a child can communicate a need, behaviour driven by frustration often eases.
• Supporting natural speech — AAC is a bridge, not a barrier; many children vocalise more when the pressure to "perform" speech is removed.

Goals are always shaped to your individual child — their interests, their environment, and the people they most want to talk to.

How goals are chosen

A speech-language pathologist looks at what your child already does to communicate, what they most want and need to say, and which tools fit their abilities. Goals start small and meaningful — often a single powerful word like "more" or "stop" — then grow. The whole family is coached, because AAC works best when it travels home, to school and everywhere your child goes.

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. From there your child receives a clear communication profile and an AAC plan built into their speech therapy programme, shaped to their strengths. Explore more about how we support children and families across our network.

Trusted sources

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) guidance on AAC and communication goals; WHO ICD-11 framing of communication development; American Academy of Pediatrics family resources (HealthyChildren.org).

Next step — Want to find the right voice for your child? Book a communication assessment with a Pinnacle clinician.

This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.