Early Intervention AAC Insights

Wondering what the outcomes are for early intervention AAC use? We have some data for you! Check out the survey results from Families and SLPs of AAC users ages 0-3.

Findings are drawn from an ongoing outcomes study of QuickTalker Freestyle users funded between ages 0 and 3. 

AbleNet contacted 500 SLPs and 500 families connected to approximately 4,800 successfully funded devices in this age group. Current respondents include 58 SLPs and 27 families. Data collection is ongoing and findings are preliminary. 

What Families Are Saying…🔗

Are Users Still Communicating on Their QuickTalker Freestyle?🔗

93%

of families report that the user they support is still using their QuickTalker Freestyle. 

Has the QuickTalker Freestyle Made a Difference in Your User’s Life?🔗

85%

of families report that the QuickTalker Freestyle has made a difference in their loved one’s life.

12%

of families report that they are not sure yet.

4%

of families report that the QuickTalker Freestyle has not made a difference in their user’s life.

How Has the QuickTalker Freestyle Improved Users’ Ability to Communicate?🔗

78%

Expressing Wants and Needs 

The device helped users make specific requests such as food, activities, or entertainment.

39%

Language and Vocabulary Growth

Users showed gains in spoken language, sound-word associations, and concepts like colors and numbers.

33% 

Increased
Self-Advocacy and Autonomy

Users independently initiated communication and navigated the device to express themselves.

28%

Reduced Frustration and Outbursts

Families observed reduced challenging behaviors as communication skills improved.

22%

Communication Beyond Basic Needs

Users progressed beyond simple requests to express feelings, comment, and engage with others.

Are Users Still Seeing Their SLP?🔗

95%

of families report that the user they support is still seeing their SLP. 

What SLPs Are Saying…🔗

What Stage of Diagnosis Were Clients in When Submitting Funding Request?🔗

At the time of the funding request, SLPs reported that clients were presenting with the following: 

Results indicated that most early intervention SLPs are recommending AAC devices for a variety of reasons.

67%

Confirmed Diagnosis

59%

Suspected Diagnosis

71%

Developmental Milestone Delay

Do you view the QuickTalker Freestyle as a short-term (1-2 years) tool, or as a long-term (2+ years of use) communication solution? 🔗

63%

of SLPs view the QuickTalker Freestyle as a long-term communication solution.

14%

of SLPs view the QuickTalker Freestyle as a short-term tool.

23%

of SLPs are unsure.

What Communication Goals Are You Hoping to Achieve? 🔗

69%

Expressing Wants and Needs 

Goals focus on helping clients communicate wants, needs, and requests for food, people, activities, or objects.  

40%

Communication Beyond Basic Needs

Goals focus on expanding communication beyond basic requests, including commenting, labeling, answering questions, and building vocabulary.

24% 

Multimodal and AAC System Development

Goals frame the device within a broader AAC approach, as a bridge to speech or a primary communication tool.

22%

Social Participation and Community Engagement

Goals focus on connecting with others across settings through greetings, reciprocal interaction, and relationship-building.  

17%

Frustration Reduction and Behavior Support

Goals focus on decreasing communication-related frustration and replacing challenging behaviors with functional communication

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