Interpretation Accuracy and Acceptance according to AAC Types and Message Error Types

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to find which AAC type(high-tech, low-tech) and error type (omission, substitution, and inversion) is more influential to communication partners’ accuracy, acceptance, as well as the attitude of the AAC users. Methods: The error message scripts were constructed based on everyday life expressions; and omisson, substitution, and inversion error videos produced by high-tech and low-tech AAC. The participants of the study were AAC users’ family groups and 30 AAC inexperienced groups. The study participants watched the video and answered online questionnaires regarding interpretation accuracy, acceptance, and attitude of the AAC users. A three-way mixed ANOVA was used to confirm the difference in accuracy and acceptance; and in the case of attitude, the difference was analyzed through a two-way mixed ANOVA. Results: There was no difference between groups in the accuracy and acceptance of message interpretation according to the AAC type and message error type, however the difference according to the error type was found to be significant. In terms of accuracy analysis, high scores were recorded in the order of inversion, substitution, and omission error; and in the case of acceptance, high scores were recorded in the order of inversion, omission, and substitution. There was no significant difference in attitudes toward AAC users between groups. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that in order for communication through AAC to be successful, direct intervention for AAC users and indirect intervention for communication partners must be provided together. Training for communication partners should be provided, along with interventions to minimize omission and substitution errors by AAC users.