This pilot study consisted of two main purposes: 1) to examine whether SLPs who are already using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) in therapy are using apps as a form of AAC, and within what parameters, and 2) to explore possible reasons SLPs are using apps as AAC, and possible sources for their clinical decision making using AAC apps. A nationwide survey was sent out to speech-language pathologists who were members of four ASHA Special Interest Groups. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data gathered from the survey. Results from this study suggested some SLPs use apps as a form of AAC, and offered initial insight into what AAC apps being used, what app-capable devices are being incorporated into therapy for communicative purposes, and the clinical decision-making process behind choosing apps as a form of AAC. While definitive answers were not obtained, the study provided a foundation for future research on the topic of apps as a form of AAC.
","abstract_html":"<p>This pilot study consisted of two main purposes: 1) to examine whether SLPs who are already using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) in therapy are using apps as a form of AAC, and within what parameters, and 2) to explore possible reasons SLPs are using apps as AAC, and possible sources for their clinical decision making using AAC apps. A nationwide survey was sent out to speech-language pathologists who were members of four ASHA Special Interest Groups. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data gathered from the survey. Results from this study suggested some SLPs use apps as a form of AAC, and offered initial insight into what AAC apps being used, what app-capable devices are being incorporated into therapy for communicative purposes, and the clinical decision-making process behind choosing apps as a form of AAC. While definitive answers were not obtained, the study provided a foundation for future research on the topic of apps as a form of AAC. </p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Gilbert, Joselyn Rae"],"institution":"Eastern Kentucky University","degree_name":"Master of Arts (MA)","degree_level":"Master's","degree_discipline":"Special Education","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2013,"date_issued":"2013-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2013-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:15:19Z","subjects":["Applications (apps)","Apps as AAC","Augmentative and Alternative Communication","iPad","Smartphone","Speech Language Pathology","Special Education and Teaching"],"languages":[],"rights":["Copyright 2013 Joselyn Rae Gilbert"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/170","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Gilbert, Joselyn Rae"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Encompass Digital Archive, Eastern Kentucky University"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Master Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Special Education"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Master's"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Arts (MA)"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Eastern Kentucky University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Applications (apps)","Apps as AAC","Augmentative and Alternative Communication","iPad","Smartphone","Speech Language Pathology","Special Education and Teaching"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright 2013 Joselyn Rae Gilbert"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/170"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This pilot study consisted of two main purposes: 1) to examine whether SLPs who are already using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) in therapy are using apps as a form of AAC, and within what parameters, and 2) to explore possible reasons SLPs are using apps as AAC, and possible sources for their clinical decision making using AAC apps. A nationwide survey was sent out to speech-language pathologists who were members of four ASHA Special Interest Groups. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data gathered from the survey. Results from this study suggested some SLPs use apps as a form of AAC, and offered initial insight into what AAC apps being used, what app-capable devices are being incorporated into therapy for communicative purposes, and the clinical decision-making process behind choosing apps as a form of AAC. While definitive answers were not obtained, the study provided a foundation for future research on the topic of apps as a form of AAC.
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"],"dc:format":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier":["https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/170"],"dc:publisher":["Encompass Digital Archive, Eastern Kentucky University"],"dc:rights":["Copyright 2013 Joselyn Rae Gilbert"],"dc:source":["Encompass Digital Archive: Online Theses and Dissertations"],"dc:subject":["Applications (apps)","Apps as AAC","Augmentative and Alternative Communication","iPad","Smartphone","Speech Language Pathology","Special Education and Teaching"],"dc:title":["Exploring the Utilization of Applications as a Form of Augmentative and Alternative Communication by Speech-Language Pathologists"],"dc:type":["Master Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Special Education"],"thesis:degree_level":["Master's"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Arts (MA)"],"thesis:institution_name":["Eastern Kentucky University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:15:19Z"}