Choose an AAC device or app by matching your child's current communication, how they can physically select messages, and where they will use it. ASHA says children younger than 3 can start AAC, with no skill milestone required first. Trial options with your child's SLP before you buy, and plan for both home and school support.
This page is general information for parents and caregivers, not medical or clinical advice. An SLP leads assessment and recommendations.
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What kinds of AAC are there?
ASHA's public guide to AAC groups options as no-tech and low-tech (drawing, facial expressions, gestures, pointing to pictures and words, spelling, writing) and high-tech (apps on tablets or smartphones, computers with artificial voices, speech-generating devices). "A person might use a combination of AAC tools to communicate throughout the day."
This page is about choosing a system, often a high-tech app or device, sometimes with a low-tech backup. It does not answer whether AAC delays speech. That is a separate question.
What should you and the SLP look at first?
ASHA says speech-language pathologists assess communication needs and identify technology that fits those needs, recommend tools tailored to physical needs, teach the child and communication partners how to use AAC, and work with teachers, occupational therapists, and physical therapists so AAC can be used in the places the child actually goes.
In practice, the team usually gathers:
- How the child communicates now. Gestures, sounds, words, pictures, and behavior used to request, refuse, greet, or comment.
- Understanding and attention. What the child understands, and how long they can stay with a shared activity.
- Access. Finger touch, stylus, switch, eye gaze, head tracking, or joystick. Physical access is an OT, PT, and SLP decision, not a parent solo choice.
- Settings. Home, classroom, therapy, and community, including noise, Wi-Fi, and who will model the system.
How do you trial before you buy?
Most clinics and many app or device makers offer a short loan or in-app trial. InclusiveSpeak's paid plans include a 30-day free trial with no credit card.
During a trial, note with the SLP:
- Does the child initiate messages, or only respond when prompted?
- Can they select reliably with the chosen access method?
- Will parents and teachers model the same vocabulary?
- Does the setup work offline where Wi-Fi is weak, such as school buses and outdoor play?
ASHA's guide says, "Even if you tried once before, you can try again." A failed first trial is not a final answer.
What differs between home and school?
| Home | School | |
|---|---|---|
| Who models AAC day to day | Parents and caregivers | Teachers, aides, and the SLP |
| Vocabulary focus | Family routines, preferences, and feelings | Classroom routines, curriculum words, and peer talk |
| Device rules | Family choice | Often needs IEP or 504 language and the school's technology policies |
| Backup | A paper board for the bath, car, or beach | A low-tech backup if the tablet is docked or charging |
Ask the school team how an app or device will be supported across classrooms. This page is not an insurance, Medicaid, or IEP goal guide.
Which product features matter for a child AAC app?
Prefer features you will actually use in the first months:
- Editable visual boards and a symbol library you can grow
- Text-to-speech with adjustable voice and speed
- Offline use on the device the child carries
- Profiles so home and school can share or separate boards
- Progress or goal views for the SLP and family
- Accessibility (switch control, button size, contrast) when motor or vision needs require it
InclusiveSpeak on iPhone and iPad (iOS 18 or later) includes visual boards, text-to-speech, word prediction, a symbol library, progress and goals, offline use on iOS, switch control, and high contrast, plus a web dashboard for parents, therapists, and schools.
How InclusiveSpeak fits
InclusiveSpeak is an AAC app for iPhone and iPad (iOS 18 or later) with a web dashboard. There is a free tier. Paid plans include a 30-day free trial with no credit card, 20% off annual billing, and education and non-profit discounts. It is one option to trial with your child's SLP, not a substitute for assessment or therapy. This page does not rank competitor apps.
You can review AAC features, how it works, pricing, and the FAQ. For a separate app roundup, see Top 5 AAC Apps for Therapists and Parents.
Related questions
If sensory processing and late talking are the main question, see Sensory Issues and Delayed Speech: Are They Connected?
Whether an AAC app will stop a child from learning to talk is a different question. This guide does not answer it.
FAQ
How do I choose an AAC device for my child?
Match the system to how your child communicates now, how they can select messages, and where they will use it. ASHA recommends working with an SLP, who can assess needs and involve OT, PT, and teachers. Trial before you buy.
Is an AAC app the same as a speech-generating device?
High-tech AAC includes apps on tablets or phones and dedicated speech-generating devices. Many children use an app on a tablet. Some need dedicated hardware. Your SLP helps decide.
Can we start AAC before age 3?
Yes. ASHA says children younger than 3 can start, and there are no thinking skills, test scores, or other milestones required first.
Should we use the same AAC system at home and at school?
Ideally the child has a consistent system, with vocabulary that covers both places. Confirm school support, and any IEP language, with the school team.
What if the first AAC trial fails?
ASHA says you can try again. With your SLP, change the access method, the vocabulary size, or who models the system, rather than abandoning AAC after one attempt.
Does InclusiveSpeak work offline?
Yes. The iOS app works fully offline and syncs when it is online again.