Election criteria for the adoption of an augmentative communication system: preliminary considerations.

Criteria for determining candidacy for an augmentative communication system are reviewed. Included is a consideration of cognitive, oral reflex, language, motor, intelligibility, emotional, chromological age, previous therapy, imitative, and environmental factors. The multiple factors are arranged on a branching type decision matrix, which yields a decision to either elect, reject, or delay implementation of an augmentative communication system. Case data demonstrating application of the decision matrix are presented.