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What Is a Communication Board and How Is It Used?
A communication board is a low-tech AAC tool showing pictures, symbols or words that a child points to in order to communicate needs and feelings. It gives a voice to children who are not yet speaking and, far from holding back speech, often supports spoken language to grow.
In this answer 4 sections
Your child has so much to say — a communication board can be the bridge that lets it through.
In short
A communication board is a simple, low-tech AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) tool — a flat board or page displaying pictures, symbols, photos, letters or words that a child points to in order to share thoughts, needs and feelings. It gives a voice to children who are not yet speaking, or whose speech is hard for others to understand. It does not replace talking; in fact, it often supports spoken language to grow.
How a communication board is used
A child communicates by pointing, looking at, or touching the picture or word they want — for example a cup for "drink", a toy for "play", or a happy face for "I'm happy". The people around them then respond and "say it out loud", modelling the link between the symbol and the message.
- Choose meaningful symbols first — favourite foods, people, activities and core words like want, more, stop, help, go.
- Model it yourself — point to symbols as you speak, so your child sees how the board works (this is called aided language stimulation).
- Keep it always available — at mealtimes, play and bath time, not locked away for "therapy time".
- Honour every attempt — respond to any pointing or glance towards the board as real communication.
- Grow with your child — boards expand from a few symbols to fuller vocabularies, and many children move on to high-tech speech-generating apps and devices.
A common worry: will it stop my child from talking? Research is clear and reassuring — AAC supports communication and often encourages spoken words rather than holding them back.
The Pinnacle way
Which symbols, layout and AAC approach suit your child is best decided with a speech-language therapist who knows them. Developmental measurement supports care planning; diagnosis requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional., under qualified clinician care — never from an app or online form. From there we build a communication plan that fits your child today and grows with them. Explore our speech therapy support, see how the AbilityScore works, or start at our home.
Trusted sources
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) guidance on augmentative and alternative communication; American Academy of Pediatrics family resources on supporting communication.
Next step — Curious whether a communication board is right for your child? Book a Pinnacle assessment and a speech-language therapist will guide you.
This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
CONNECT THE ANSWER TO YOUR CHILD’S DAY
Something to notice. Something to discuss.
What to notice
Watch for moments your child clearly wants something but can't get the message across — pointing, leading you by the hand, or frustration. These are exactly the moments a communication board can help.
In everyday life
Pick five core symbols your child cares about — like 'more', 'drink', 'play', 'help' and 'all done' — and point to them yourself as you speak throughout the day. Seeing you use the board is the best way for your child to learn it.
Bring your observations and questions to your child’s professional. Choose activities that suit your child’s comfort, abilities and agreed plan.
Bring your questions to a first visitQuestions families ask
Will using a communication board stop my child from learning to talk?
No. Research consistently shows that AAC tools like communication boards support communication and often encourage spoken words to develop rather than holding them back. The board gives your child a way to connect now while speech continues to grow.
At what age can a child start using a communication board?
There is no fixed age — communication boards can be introduced early, even with toddlers, using a few simple, meaningful pictures. A speech-language therapist can help you choose symbols and a layout suited to your child's stage.
What is the difference between a communication board and a speech app?
A communication board is low-tech — a printed board or page of symbols a child points to. A speech-generating app or device is high-tech and 'speaks' the message aloud. Many children begin with a board and move on to high-tech AAC as their needs grow.
FOLLOW THE SOURCE
References behind this answer.
- Source referenceASHA — Augmentative and Alternative Communication
- Organisation website · further readingAAP — HealthyChildren.org family resources
References are supplied with this answer. An organisation homepage offers further reading; it does not establish an independent review of this page.
Content attribution: SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network.
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