New to this topic? Start with our companion article: What Is Aided Language Stimulation? A Parent's Guide from a Brisbane Speech Pathologist
It's Tuesday morning. You've got one kid half-dressed, the toast is burning, and somewhere in the chaos you're meant to be modelling on your child's communication system. If that sounds familiar, this article is for you.
Aided language stimulation doesn't need to be perfect, and it doesn't need to add extra time to your day. It fits into what you're already doing — school runs, snack time, bath time, walks to the park. (Not sure what aided language stimulation is? Start with What Is Aided Language Stimulation?)
What It Actually Looks Like: Modelling in Everyday Routines
The most effective modelling happens inside activities that are already part of your day — mealtimes, bath time, getting dressed, play, book reading. Repetition is where the magic happens, and a speech pathologist will usually help families pick one or two of these routines to focus on first, rather than trying to model everywhere at once.
What that looks like in practice will vary by child. For one family, it might be weaving a handful of key words through dinner every night. For another, it might be using bath time as a consistent language-rich window. The choice of words, the pacing, and which routine to start with are exactly the things we work through together in sessions — because what works beautifully for one child can flop for another.
This is where it's worth being honest: the written-down version of aided language stimulation can make it sound straightforward, but in real homes it takes coaching to get it feeling natural. That's a normal part of AAC therapy, not a sign you're doing anything wrong.
Model Without Expecting a Response
This is one of the most important principles of aided language stimulation, and also one of the hardest for parents. When you model, don't ask your child to copy you.
It's natural to want to say "Now you try!" or "Can you point to 'more'?" But putting pressure on your child to respond can actually slow things down. It shifts the interaction from communication to performance, and it can make the system feel like a test rather than a conversation.
Instead, think of yourself as a language bath — you're soaking your child in rich communication input. They'll start using the system in their own time, when they're ready.
Research consistently shows that modelling without expectation leads to better outcomes than demanding responses (Binger & Light, 2007). Trust the process. The moment parents stop testing and start just communicating alongside their child, the child's engagement with their system increases noticeably — and, contrary to a worry we hear constantly, modelling alongside AAC does not stop children from talking. (The evidence on that is covered in Speech Generating Devices: What They Are.)
Talk About All Kinds of Things
It's easy to fall into the habit of only modelling requests — "want," "more," "eat." But communication is so much more than asking for things. Make sure you're also modelling:
- Comments: "Funny!" "Wow!" "I like it!"
- Social words: "Hi," "bye," "thank you"
- Feelings: "Happy," "sad," "angry," "scared"
- Questions: "What?" "Where?"
- Describing words: "Big," "little," "fast," "yucky"
The more variety your child sees in how the system is used, the richer their communication will become.
Across many years working alongside teachers and teacher aides, I've seen that a child's progress on AAC tends to mirror how many adults around them are willing to pick the system up and have a go — which is why partner training, not just child therapy, is such a big part of what we do.
Learning to use aided language stimulation takes practice, and it's completely normal to feel uncertain at first. The good news is that you don't need to be perfect — you just need to be present, consistent, and willing to have a go. If you'd like hands-on support with modelling, or if you're just getting started with AAC, Speaking Speech Pathology offers mobile sessions to families across Brisbane's south side and Logan. Get in touch whenever you're ready. Any actual clinical work — assessment, diagnosis, or therapy — happens through a proper consultation tailored to your child.
References
- Binger, C., & Light, J. (2007). The effect of aided AAC modelling on the expression of multi-symbol messages by preschoolers who use AAC. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 23(1), 30–43.
- Sennott, S. C., Light, J. C., & McNaughton, D. (2016). AAC modelling intervention research review. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 41(2), 101–115.
- Speech Pathology Australia. (2020). Augmentative and alternative communication clinical guidelines. Speech Pathology Australia.
Alexandra Bouwmeester is a Senior Speech Pathologist (MSPA, CPSP) with over 14 years' experience in AAC and family-centred intervention, and a mum of two. She offers mobile speech pathology to families across Brisbane's south side and Logan.
