Aided communication helps people who cannot or struggle to speak express themselves. What it is, who it is for, which forms exist, and how to get started at home.
Aided communication is an umbrella term for all the ways someone can communicate when speaking is difficult or not yet possible. Instead of spoken language you might use pictograms, a communication board, signs, or a speech device. The goal is the same: to express wishes, feelings, questions, and ideas — in a way that fits the person.
In English this is often called AAC: Augmentative and Alternative Communication. Augmentative communication adds something to existing speech (for example a few core words on a board). Alternative communication is the main channel when someone uses little or no spoken language. In practice these terms overlap; speech therapists and schools usually refer to AAC or aided communication.
Aided communication is for children and adults with many different backgrounds: autism, speech-language difficulties, aphasia after a stroke, intellectual disability, dysarthria, Down syndrome, ALS, or other neurological conditions. Not everyone needs the same aid — what works depends on motor skills, vision, comprehension, and the environment.
Communication is a basic need. Children who speak little often understand more than they can say. With aided communication you give them an extra channel: they can indicate “yes” or “no”, choose from pictures, or have a short sentence spoken aloud. That reduces frustration, builds confidence, and makes participation at school, home, and in groups easier.
There are many forms of aided communication. Pictograms and photos on a digital communication board are the best known. Paper-based systems (such as PECS), signs and sign systems, writing or typing, and dedicated speech devices that speak sentences are also common. Sometimes people combine several forms: a few signs, a few core words on a board, and later a more extensive digital system.
A communication board — digital or on paper — works like a menu of words and pictures. The user points or taps a symbol; a caregiver or the app speaks it aloud. You often start with core words: “I want”, “drink”, “eat”, “play”, “help”, “tired”. Step by step you add words from daily life. Language grows even when someone does not speak aloud.
Aided communication works best when the environment participates. Parents, teachers, and caregivers can use the board themselves (“modelling”): tap “drink” when you pick up a glass of water. Give time to respond — sometimes it takes a moment to make a choice. Celebrate every attempt, even when it is not perfect yet. Pressuring speech backfires: the board is an addition, not a replacement for body language, facial expressions, or other signals.
A speech therapist helps determine which form of aided communication fits, which words to offer first, and how to use it consistently at home or school. TWIYO can be a low-threshold supplement: an affordable digital communication board on the tablet or phone you already own. With Premium you tap categories and core words; the app speaks sentences aloud. You can add your own photos — of family, school, or daily activities — so aided communication feels more personal and recognizable.
TWIYO was born from our own experience with a non-verbal child. We saw how much our son understood when words were linked to images. That is why we built an app where you choose the pictures yourself — one that grows with the user. For free you can start with letters, counting, and up to 25 custom words; with Premium (or the free 14-day trial) you get the full communication board, word game, and speller.
Important to know: TWIYO is an educational and communication app, not a medically certified device. It does not replace a professional speech device, speech therapy advice, or school support. It can be a practical way to practice aided communication at home, or to keep working consistently with the same words and pictures alongside therapy.
Want to read more? Our article on AAC at home explains how to use a communication board in daily life. We have separate guides on pictograms and speech devices at twiyo.app/blog. Ready to try? Open TWIYO, add the app to your home screen, and start free — or try Premium free for 14 days to test the communication board.
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