Developing a screening instrument for underlying core domains of communicative competence in children with communication support needs

The article presents a socio-neurocognitive approach to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), emphasizing the interconnected domains of communicative competence, such as attention, perception, cognition, memory, socio-emotional development, motor skills, and language. To assess these domains in children with communication support needs, the authors developed a new screening instrument. This was validated through three studies: the first involved constructing the instrument with children with typical development and Down syndrome; the second confirmed its reliability and validity against a language scale; and the third validated it using the Communication Matrix in a clinical sample. The screening tool aims to guide AAC interventions by offering detailed insights into a child's strengths and weaknesses across these core domains.