At Penn State University, we are actively working with individuals with complex communication needs, their families, and their service providers to build their communicative competence, improve outcomes, and enhance the quality of their lives.
The Penn State Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic offers a wide range of evidence-based AAC services for individuals with complex communication needs across the lifespan, including
- Individuals with developmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, intellectual disability, or developmental apraxia
- Individuals with acquired disabilities such as those that result from traumatic brain injuries or strokes
- Individuals with degenerative neurological disorders such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease), muscular dystrophy or multiple sclerosis.
These individuals may have limited speech or speech that is difficult to understand.
They may benefit from a wide range of AAC systems to augment their speech and enhance their communication, including the use of
- Gestures or sign language
- Low tech pictures or symbols
- High tech speech generating devices or apps.
In addition to AAC assessment and intervention services to enhance the communicative competence of individuals with complex communication needs, we are also actively involved in a wide range of outreach activities to
- Increase public awareness
- Teach families about AAC
- Provide inservice training in AAC for education and rehabilitation professionals.
Graduate students are actively involved in AAC service delivery and outreach activities at Penn State as part of our teaching mission under the supervision of our highly qualified clinical faculty.
For additional information on AAC services at Penn State or to make a referral, please call: 814-865-5414.
