Exploring Effects of AAC Intervention on Child Behavior, Family Interactions, and Parental Acceptance among Children with Autism in Nablus-Palestine

Background Autism spectrum disorder patients face multiple challenges on a daily life basis; communication is one of the most important. Multiple interventions are available to improve both verbal and nonverbal communication, including speech and language therapy, music, art, and play interventions. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is one of the supportive interventions to improve communication that does not force speech by itself but supports communication using pictures, gestures, symbols, etc., while at the same time supporting speech. This study examines the parental experiences during AAC system use as well as effects of AAC interventions on child behavior, family interactions, and parental acceptance among children with autism in Nablus, Palestine. Methods A cross-sectional design was used in this study. Data were collected from 75 families recruited via convenience sampling to examine parental perceptions and experiences with AAC system interventions using a 3-section questionnaire. Results Results indicate strong parental support for AAC's ability to enhance communication (97.3%) and improve interactions at home (86.7%), consistent with current literature. However, significant discrepancies were found regarding AAC's perceived appropriateness for all children (31.1%) and awareness of the availability of alternative systems (33.3%). Statistical analysis revealed a non-significant correlation (Spearman's rho = 0.167, p = 0.171) between parental perceptions and experiences with AAC. Conclusion Multiple significant effects of AAC interventions were found. These findings underscore the importance of tailored interventions to address awareness gaps and enhance AAC effectiveness in diverse cultural and resource-limited settings like Palestine.