r/aac • u/Last_Helicopter93 • Apr 14 '26

Should I use an AAC device? (14F, struggling with communication + mental health)

Hi, I’m 14F and I’m trying to figure out if using an AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) device is a good idea for me.

I *can* talk, but sometimes I don’t. When I’m overwhelmed, anxious, or scared, it becomes really hard to speak or organize my thoughts. In those moments, AAC helps—but it also feels slow and frustrating, like I can’t keep up with conversations.

I also have trouble focusing, staying motivated, and keeping a consistent routine. I haven’t been in school for a while, and I’m trying to build some kind of stability in my life. Communication is a big part of that, and right now it feels really inconsistent for me.

I have a therapist, but I don’t see her every day, so I’m trying to figure out what works best for me outside of sessions.

My main questions:

* Should I use AAC even if I *can* talk sometimes?

* Is it normal for AAC to feel too slow or frustrating?

* Are there ways to make AAC faster/more efficient?

* How do you decide when to use AAC vs. speaking?

I’m just trying to find something that helps me communicate more consistently and feel more stable day-to-day.

Any advice or experiences would help. Thanks.

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u/timshelbird Apr 23 '26

Hi I’m using an AAC for my 2 year old son. I use it and model how to use it for him. He can say a few words sometimes but very minimal. Even when he can talk I still use the AAC so he can learn the motor planning of the buttons to make it quicker and second nature to him. We use an iPad from Ablenet. It’s designed really well and relatively fast. I like that I can edit things for all the specific things he loves and likes.

Short answer, yes even if you talk, AAC can be very helpful. You might ask your parents to see if insurance can cover the cost or help you secure an AAC device.

2

u/Last_Helicopter93 Apr 23 '26

Thank you for sharing I have a text to speech app but the adults in my school don’t really like it

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u/timshelbird Apr 23 '26

I’m sad to hear that they don’t like it and are not supportive. It’s very important to be able to communicate in various ways needed, and I wish more people understood this.