Here are some important facts to bear in mind when we compare language development for neuro-typical vs AAC users.
| Neuro typical user | AAC User | |
| Number of words a child hears per day | 4000-6000 words | Number of words "modelled" on the device per day |
| Number of times a child hears words before they can say it | 500 times | 50-150 - the number of times a word has to be modelled for the child to learn to start using it |
| Spoken language received by a child during the first 18 months | 4380 hours* | For AAC user who uses AAC twice a week for 20-30 minutes, it will take them 84 years before getting the same exposure to language through AAC* |
| No of hours of exposure to receptive language by the time they are 9-12 years | 36,500 hours* | If an AAC user uses AAC for 20-30 minutes twice a week, it would take them 701 years to be exposed to the same amount of language on their device* |
| Duration for which child is immersed in language before WE expect them to start speaking | 1 year | Immediately after starting AAC! |
Reference
*Jane Korsten (2011)