Selecting the Right AAC App: What Features Really Matter
For individuals with complex communication needs, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) can be a life-changing tool. With a growing number of AAC apps available, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the options. While every communicator’s needs are unique, there are certain core features that should guide your selection process. Choosing the right app isn’t just about finding the latest technology—it’s about ensuring the system truly supports the individual’s communication, learning, and independence.
AAC Decision-Making Framework
Before diving into app features, it’s essential to take a step back and consider the bigger picture. A thorough AAC decision-making framework should include:
Current Communication Skills – What modes, vocabulary, and functions does the communicator currently use?
Long-Term Communication Needs – How will the system support evolving communication goals over months and years?
Individual Factors and Mindset – Consider the user’s motivation, caregiver support, learning style, and comfort with technology.
1. Customizability and Personalization
An effective AAC app should be adaptable to the user’s current abilities and future growth. Look for:
Customizable vocabulary so you can add relevant fringe vocabulary words, including names, places, hobbies, and interests.
Adjustable layouts to match the user’s visual, cognitive, and motor needs.
The ability to personalize with photos, symbols, and voice options for familiarity and engagement.
Power Phrases: Include pre-programmed high-value phrases for urgent wants and needs (e.g., “I need a break,” “Help, please,” “Stop”) to reduce navigation time.
Tip for Gestalt Language Processors: For individuals who communicate using echolalia or scripts, the app should allow for the storage, labeling, and flexible reorganization of longer phrases and sentence chunks. This supports natural language acquisition stages and can make AAC more meaningful for gestalt communicators.
Voice Smileys: These can add intonation, prosody, and emotional tone to certain sounds, words, or phrases—helping gestalt communicators preserve the “feel” of their preferred scripts.
2. Robust Language System
A well-designed AAC app is more than just a collection of symbols—it provides a pathway to language development. The system should include:
A large vocabulary (ideally 2,000+ words) to allow for flexible, generative communication.
Grammar functions such as verb conjugation, pluralization, and tense changes to expand language capabilities.
A keyboard for novel sentence creation and early literacy development.
The vocabulary organization also matters:
Category-Based Layouts group words by topics (e.g., food, places, actions), which can be intuitive for some users but require more navigation steps.
Motor Planning Layouts keep core words in the same location at all times, allowing the user to develop muscle memory for faster communication.
3. Ease of Navigation
An AAC app should balance complexity with accessibility. Too many hidden pages or inconsistent navigation can slow communication and frustrate the user. Look for:
Consistent button placement to support motor memory.
Predictable organization for quick access to high-frequency words.
Search functions for faster vocabulary retrieval.
Considerations for Layout & Visual Organization:
Grid Size: The number of buttons per page should match the user’s motor and visual scanning abilities while still promoting language growth.
Symbol Sets: Choose a symbol style (e.g., realistic photos, line drawings, or abstract icons) that aligns with the user’s comprehension and preferences.
Color Coding: Color coding (such as Fitzgerald Key or Modified Fitzgerald) can help users quickly identify word types and navigate more efficiently.
Visual Scene Displays: These picture-based systems with interactive “hotspots” provide context-rich communication, ideal for situational or location-specific vocabulary.
4. Access Method Compatibility
Not all users access AAC apps with direct finger pointing. Consider whether the app supports alternative access methods such as switch scanning, head tracking, or eye gaze. The ability to pair with external devices can greatly expand accessibility for users with physical limitations.
5. Support for Literacy Development
If literacy growth is a goal, the AAC app should provide tools for learning and using text. This may include:
A keyboard with word prediction.
The ability to spell out words not yet in the symbol library.
Features that encourage reading and writing practice.
AAC is not just for speaking—it can also be a bridge to literacy skills.
6. Training and Support Resources
Even the most feature-rich app will fall short without proper training and support. Look for apps that provide:
Built-in tutorials and guided setup.
Robust online resources (videos, manuals, community forums).
Access to ongoing technical support and updates.
AAC success is a team effort—families, educators, and therapists all need tools to implement it effectively.
Speech Bee Speech Therapy: Your Partner in AAC
Speech Bee Speech Therapy is proud to be a Voice Options Program Vendor, making it easier for clients to find their ideal AAC system. Through this program, eligible individuals can trial up to seven different AAC applications for 14 days each. After completing the trial process and selecting the most suitable app, users may qualify to receive a free speech-generating device.
Speech Bee also offers individual assessments and evaluations for augmentative and alternative communication which can be used to access AAC through insurance or other funding sources.
Selecting the right AAC app isn’t about finding the one with the most features—it’s about identifying the features that matter most for the individual communicator. This approach ensures that the chosen AAC tool is not only evidence-based but also the perfect fit for the user’s communication style, access needs, and daily environment—reducing the risk of device abandonment and maximizing long-term success.
