# What goals does augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) work on?

Canonical: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-goals-does-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac-work-on
Publisher: Pinnacle Blooms Network / Bharath Healthcare Laboratories Private Limited

AAC works on functional goals — requesting, making choices, expanding vocabulary, social connection, understanding others and reducing frustration — using pictures, symbols, signs or speech devices, and often supports natural speech rather than replacing it. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

*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](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) and an AAC plan built into their [speech therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/top-speech-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) 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](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: https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/aac/
- AAP — HealthyChildren.org: 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
- Early Clarity: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/empowerment/early_clarity

## 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 happens during AAC sessions?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-happens-during-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac-sessions
- 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
- How AAC Helps a Non-Verbal or Minimally Verbal Child: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-aac-help-a-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation
- 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 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

### 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
- How is a child's progress measured in AAC?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-is-a-child-s-progress-measured-in-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 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 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
- 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 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

### 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