CHC08 Disability Behaviour Support Skill Set Learner Resource ...

CHC08 Disability Behaviour Support Skill SetLearner Guide Book 2: CommunicationACTIVITY 1.4: Discuss the impact of CCN on skill development and community participation.What does this mean for your role as a support worker?Augmentative and Alternative CommunicationAugmentative and alternative communication (AAC), is the term used for all communicationthat is not speech, but strategies which are used to enhance or to replace speech. AAC isused to increase the understanding of language, and to augment, supplement and enhanceexpression of language. For example, we can augment speech for a person who has ahearing impairment by using gestures, pointing, signing, spelling, writing and body language.It is a combination of two distinct terms:Augment means to add to or to enhance. For example, we can augment ourspeech for a person with a hearing impairment by using gestures, pointing and bodylanguage, the person with a speech impairment can augment expression by usinggestures, pointing, VOCA or Makaton.Alternative means a choice or a substitute. We can use alternativecommunication to speech using symbols, signing or by spelling.Your clients may experience communication difficulties which include trouble speaking,understanding, reading or writing. Many people experience a communication disability as aresult of brain damage suffered from a stroke or head injury, and people who havedegenerative neurological conditions can exhibit the same communication difficulties. Thetwo major communication difficulties your clients will display are:1. Aphasia or dysphasia. This is a disorder which is the result of damage to thelanguage centres of the brain and can affect a person’s ability to talk, listen, read andwrite.2. Dysarthria. This affects the muscles of the mouth, face and respiratory systemmaking the muscles weak, move slowly or not at all, causing speech disorders.AAC can help clients who are unable to speak to be able to:CommunicateDevelop language skills.Reduce their frustration in conveying their message, meaning or feeling.Socialise.Have control over what happens to them.John, a person with a severe communication disability describes AAC “To me, and otherslike me, AAC puts us in society. It lets us have a voice. For me, having a Liberator [voiceoutput device] has changed my life completely.”© Community Services and Health Industries Skills Council Ltd www.cshisc.com.au Page 7 of 76