Potential candidates for AAC assessment and intervention in the ICU/acute care setting may include patients who have:

• Baseline speech, language, and/or communication deficits:

  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Duchene Muscular Dystrophy
  • SMA Types I, II, III
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • CHARGE syndrome
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Developmental Delay
  • Speech-language delay
  • Trisomy 21
  • Previous neurological injury
  • DiGeorge Syndrome (Velocardiofacial Syndrome; 22q11.2 deletion)
  • Intellectual disability
  • Selective mutism
  • Motor impairment that reduces ability to access the standard nurse-call system
  • Non-English speakers
  • Other

• Acute onset communication vulnerabilities which include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • New tracheostomy
  • Intubation or other forms of mechanical ventilation
  • Medical procedure, treatment, or device that impedes a patient’s ability to effectively speak (e.g.. jaw fixation, complex dental procedures, swelling, etc.)
  • Neurological injury, aphasia
  • Aphonia or new onset vocal cord paresis
  • Dysarthria
  • Altered mental status
  • Psychiatric disorder
  • Decreased motor skills needed to effective use and access the nurse call system

• High risk for communication vulnerabilities

  • Risk for intubation or other form of mechanical ventilation
  • Anticipated tracheostomy
  • Changing neurological status
  • Future medical procedures or treatments that may impede a patients’ ability to effectively speak or communicate
  • Degenerative condition

• Patients undergoing palliative care and end of life care

  • People living with life threatening illness that may impact effective expressive and receptive communication