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A practical text on the implementation of Augmentative and Alternative Communication/Assistive Technology in hospital venues, AAC/AT in Acute Care Settings, reviews the more traditional use of AAC and expands it into the acute and critical care arenas.

It is a “how to handbook” filled with protocols, realistic solutions for implementation across hospital units and rich case examples that provide validation of the efficacy of AAC with the acute care population. This text is an ideal resource for speech-language pathologist considering expanding their hospital practice to include patients who experience temporary or permanent loss of oral language due to trauma, neurological changes or surgical interventions.

• Preface
• Chapter 1: History of AAC
  Defining AAC
  A Brief History of AAC
  How Technology Has Impacted AAC
  Etiologies That May Benefit from AAC
  ASHA’s Stand on AAC
• Chapter 2: Challenges
  Access Challenges
  Opportunity Challenges
• Chapter 3: The Impact of Assistive Technology (AT) in Acute Care Settings
  Review of AAC in Acute Care Settings
• Chapter 4: Assessment Protocol
  Videos for This Chapter
• Chapter 5: Switches as the First Step to Establishing Communication
  Nurse Call: Alternatives and Modifications
  Standard Switches
  Advanced Technology Switches
  Iowa Smart Switch
• Chapter 6: Iowa AAC Templates
  One Button Template
  Two-Three Button Templates
  Grid Pattern Button Templates
  Simple Buttons with Links Template
  The Iowa Template
  • Top Level Menu Page
  • Feelings Pop-Up Page
  • Pain Pop-Up Page
  • Entertainment Pop-Up Page
  • Chat Menu Page
  • Medical Questions Pop-Up
  • Jokes Pop-Up
  • Room-Control ECU Pop-Up
  • Bed Control Pop-Up
  • TV Control Pop-Up
  • Help Pop-Up
  • Personal Pop-Up
  • Novel Message Generation
  • Rate Enhancement Strategies
• Chapter 7: Mounting and Access Issues
  • Device Mounting Solutions
  • Hand-Held Implementations
  • Bed Tray Implementations
  • Bed Rail Implementations
  • IV Pole Implementations
    Switch Adaptation and Mounting Solutions
  • Adapting Switches
  • Mounting Strategies
    Videos Associated with This Chapter
• Chapter 8: Pain Management
• Chapter 9: Environmental Control Units (ECU)
• Chapter 10: Bad News-Communication Issues
• Chapter 11: Cases
  A: Solving the Language Barrier
  B: Maintaining a Personal Voice - Adding Humor
  C: Don’t Assume Full Understanding
  D: Don’t Assume Too Little Understanding/Be Prepared for Surprises
  E: Voicing Anger Case
  F: Codependency
  G: Failure All Around
  H: Against-All-Odds: Success
• Chapter 12: Setting Up and Funding an AAC/Assistive Technology Service
  Current State of Affairs
  Organization of an AT Service
  Staffing
  Equipment
  Training
  • Assessing Staff Needs
  • In Service Training
  • Competency Assessment
    Funding Issues
• Chapter 13: Useful Products and Links
  The MacGyver Kit: Essential Tools and Materials
  AAC Manufacturer Links
  AAC Resource Links
• Appendix A: Assessment Scenarios
• Appendix B: Major AAC Manufacturers
• Appendix C: AAC/AT Resources
• References
• Index

Richard Hurtig, Ph.D.

Richard Hurtig, Ph.D., is Professor and Chair in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at University of Iowa.

Debora Downey, CCC-SLP

Debora A. Downey, MA, CCC-SLP, is a Parent Coordinator of the Center for Disabilities and Development, University of Iowa