When a child has little or no spoken speech, the gap between what they want to say and what they can express becomes a daily weight for the whole family. AAC, short for augmentative and alternative communication, is a category of tools designed to bridge that gap and to give children a real voice in their own lives.

AAC doesn't replace the goal of speech. For many children, it actively supports speech development by removing communication frustration and giving them a language foundation to build on. Research consistently shows that AAC does not suppress verbal language. Children who use AAC often gain more spoken words over time, not fewer. Many families hold back out of that fear, and the evidence says they don't need to.

What counts as AAC?

AAC covers a wide range of tools, and the variety can feel overwhelming at first. On the simpler end, a laminated picture board or a PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) binder counts as AAC. On the more sophisticated end, dedicated speech-generating devices (SGDs) produce spoken output at the press of a symbol, and some can be operated with eye gaze or head tilt for children with motor challenges.

Tablet-based apps sit somewhere in the middle. Apps like Proloquo2Go and TouchChat HD turn an iPad into a communication device, often at a fraction of the cost of a dedicated SGD. For children with autism who are already drawn to tablets, these apps tend to feel natural quickly.

Finding the right fit for your child

The right device depends on your child's motor skills, cognitive profile, vision, and how they communicate right now. A speech-language pathologist (SLP) should lead this assessment, and most recommend starting with a low-tech option to explore vocabulary and communication patterns before moving to a more complex system.

Some children do well with a GoTalk device (roughly $175 to $570), which offers voice output from prerecorded messages. Others need the vocabulary depth and flexibility of Proloquo2Go ($250 as an app) or a dedicated SGD that may cost more but offers capabilities that grow with the child. There's no single right answer, and a good SLP won't push you toward one choice. They'll follow your child's lead.

Getting insurance to cover it

Cost stops a lot of families before they even start, and that's understandable. Here's the roadmap: dedicated SGDs are classified as durable medical equipment under most insurance plans, which means coverage is genuinely possible.

To build a successful claim, you'll typically need three things working together: a prescription from your child's physician documenting communication needs, a comprehensive SLP evaluation, and a letter of medical necessity that explains specifically why this device is required for your child's development. Your SLP can write that letter, and a strong one makes a significant difference.

Tablet-based apps have historically been harder to get covered, but advocacy has moved the needle in recent years. If one path closes, there are nonprofits and state funding programs that specifically help families access AAC. Your SLP should know what's available in your area.

Starting the conversation

If your child's SLP hasn't brought up AAC, you can raise it yourself. There is no minimum age. AAC is used with toddlers, and earlier access is associated with better long-term outcomes.

Ask specifically about a comprehensive AAC evaluation, which looks at your child's current communication, motor abilities, and learning style. From that assessment, the SLP builds a vocabulary system around your child's actual daily life: the people they talk to, the things they want to request, the feelings they need to name.

Success doesn't look like a device that gets pulled out at appointments. It looks like your child reaching for it on a Tuesday morning to tell you they want cereal, or using it to say no thank you to a sibling. When AAC is working, it becomes part of how your child moves through their day, not a clinical tool they're made to practice.