Critical Review: Which Design Overlay is Better Suited for Early Assisted AAC Intervention in Preschoolers: Visual Scene Displays or Traditional Grid Layouts?

This critical review examines the effect of AAC assisted device screen layout on the ability of preschool children to access vocabulary. Specifically, this review compares the success of young children when using a speech generating device containing either a traditional grid organizational display, where vocabulary items are organized in a square grid pattern of discrete icons, or a Visual Scene Display (VSD), where vocabulary items are imbedded in a contextual scene. Study designs reviewed include 3 original research studies, 1 forum note, and 2 expert opinion articles. Results are inconclusive.