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Research & Innovation

The Augmentative Communication Program has a rich history in the design, development, and research of assistive technology in issues related to augmentative communication. Our clinicians are continually exploring solutions for persons diagnosed with communication impairments and collaborating with multidisciplinary programs to support innovation.

Publications

(Note: Bolded authors are current and former employees of the Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Enhancement.)

Costello, J. M. (2006). Speech, Language and Communication. In L. Rubin, Crocker, A. (Ed.), Medical Care for Children and Adults with Developmental Disabilities. Brookes Publishers.

Costello, J. M., Rose, E. N. (2019). Speech and communication. In L. G. R. Stevenson (Ed.), Children and you with complex cerebral palsy: Care and management Mac Keith Press.

Costello, J. M., & Shane, H. C. (2016). Speech Language Pathology: Supports to Communication. In I. L. Rubin, J. Merrick, D. E. Greydanus, & D. R. Patel (Eds.), Health Care for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities across the Lifespan (pp. 1077-1084). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18096-0_92

Costello, J., Shane, H., Caron, J. (2013). AAC, Mobile Devices and Apps: Growing Pains with Evidence Based Practice [White Paper]. https://www.childrenshospital.org/-/media/Centers-and-Services/Programs/A_E/Augmentative-Communication-Program/mobiledevicesgrowingpains.ashx?la=en&hash=B5697516AB7125070124B98BF17F5AC7CA9B718E

Gosnell, J., Costello, J., & Shane, H. (2011a). There Isn't Always an App for That! Perspectives on Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 20(1), 7-8. https://doi.org/doi:10.1044/aac20.1.7

Gosnell, J., Costello, J., & Shane, H. (2011b). Using a Clinical Approach To Answer “What Communication Apps Should We Use?” Perspectives on Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 20(3), 87-96. https://doi.org/doi:10.1044/aac20.3.87

Mccarthy, R. O’Neil, Katie. (2018). The Pitfalls of Presumptions. The ASHA Leader, 23(12). https://doi.org/10.1044/leader.FMP.23122018.10

McMahon, L., Doherty, R., & Dellea, P. (2018). Measuring the effect assistive technology has on the quality of life of individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) Conference Proceedings, Washington, D.C.

McMahon, L., Shane, H. C., & Schlosser, R. (2020). The role of occupational therapy in assessing alternative access to augmented reality for individuals with complex motor profiles. Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) Conference Proceedings, Washington, D.C.

O'Brien, M. (2015). Using Mobile Technology for Communication in the Educational Setting. Perspectives on Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 24, 45-50.

Rose, E. (2019). Promoting Agency of Patients with Complex Communication Needs in the #MeToo Era. The ASHA Leader, 24(12). https://doi.org/10.1044/leader.FMP.24122019.8

Schlosser, R. W., Koul, R., & Costello, J. (2007). Asking well-built questions for evidence-based practice in augmentative and alternative communication. J Commun Disord, 40(3), 225-238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcomdis.2006.06.008

Costello, J. (2000). AAC intervention in the intensive care unit: The Children's Hospital Boston model. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 16(3), 137-153. https://doi.org/10.1080/07434610012331279004

Costello, J. (2009). Last Words, Last Connections: How Augmentative Communication Can Support Children Facing End of Life. The ASHA Leader, 13(16). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1044/leader.FTR2.14162009.8

Costello, J. M., Patak, L., & Pritchard, J. (2010). Communication vulnerable patients in the pediatric ICU: Enhancing care through augmentative and alternative communication. J Pediatr Rehabil Med, 3(4), 289-301. https://doi.org/10.3233/PRM-2010-0140

Costello, J. M., Santiago, R., & Blackstone, S. (2015). Pediatric Acute and Intensive Care in Hospitals. In Blackstone, Beukelman, & Yorkston (Eds.), Patient-Provider Communication: Roles for Speech-Language Pathologists and Other Health Care Professionals. Plural Publishing.

Hurtig, R., Alper, R., Altschuler, T., Gendreau, S., Gormley, J., Marshall, S., Santiago, R., & Scibilia, S. (2020). Improving Outcomes for Hospitalized Patients Pre- and Post-COVID-19. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups. https://doi.org/10.1044/2020_PERSP-20-00144

Kleinpell R.M., P. L., Wilson-Stronks, A., Costello J., Person C., Henneman E.A., Happ MB. (2008). Communication in the ICU: Many tools and strategies exist for helping caregivers understand the needs of patients. Advance for Nurses, 6, 18-21.

McKeon, M., Kohn, J., Munhall, D., Wells, S., Blanchette, S., Santiago, R., Graham, R., Nuss, R., Rahbar, R., Volk, M., & Watters, K. (2019). Association of a Multidisciplinary Care Approach With the Quality of Care After Pediatric Tracheostomy. JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, 145(11), 1035-1042. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoto.2019.2500

Patak, L., Wilson-Stronks, A., Costello, J., Kleinpell, R. M., Henneman, E. A., Person, C., & Happ, M. B. (2009). Improving patient-provider communication: a call to action. J Nurs Adm, 39(9), 372-376. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNA.0b013e3181b414ca

Santiago, R., & Costello, J. M. (2013). AAC Assessment and Intervention in Pediatric ICU/Acute Care: From Referral Through Continuum of Care. SIG 12 Perspectives on Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 22(2), 102-111. https://doi.org/10.1044/aac22.2.102

Santiago, R., Gormley, J., Altschuler, T., Howard, M., Pressman, H., Blackstone, S. (2021). Promoting System Change for Communication Access in Acute Care Hospitals. Assistive Technology Outcomes and Benefits, 15(Winter 2021), 100-118. https://www.atia.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/V15_Santiago_etal.pdf

Santiago, R., Howard, M., Dombrowski, N. D., Watters, K., Volk, M. S., Nuss, R., Costello, J. M., & Rahbar, R. (2019). Preoperative augmentative and alternative communication enhancement in pediatric tracheostomy. Laryngoscope. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.28288

Ubeda Tikkanen, A., Berry, E., LeCount, E., Engstler, K., Sager, M., & Esteso, P. (2021). Rehabilitation in Pediatric Heart Failure and Heart Transplant [Review]. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 9(447). https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2021.674156

Costello, J. M. (2019). Il Processo De Message Banking™: un’introduzione Poste Italiane S.p.A, 38.

Costello, J. M. (2020). Il Processo di Message Banking™, il voice banking e id double dipping Poste Italiane S.p.A, 39.

Dellea, M. (2011). Talking to Yourself: Using Voice Recognition Software. Journal of Nurse Life Care Planning, 11(1).

Pattee, G. L., Plowman, E. K., Brooks, B. R., Berry, J. D., Atassi, N., Chapin, J. L., Garand, K., Yunusova, Y., McIlduff, C. E., Young, E., Costello, J. M., Macklin, E. A., Locatelli, E. R., Silani, V., Heitzman, D., Wymer, J., Goutman, S. A., Gelinas, D. F., Smith, R., Perry, B., Nalipinski, P., Stipancic, K., O'Brien, M., Sullivan, S. L., & Green, J. (2018). Best practices protocol for the evaluation of bulbar dysfunction: summary recommendations from the NEALS bulbar subcommittee symposium. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, 19(3-4), 311-312. https://doi.org/10.1080/21678421.2017.1404109

Pattee, G. L., Plowman, E. K., Garand, K. L., Costello, J., Brooks, B. R., Berry, J. D., Smith, R. A., Atassi, N., Chapin, J. L., Yunusova, Y., McIlduff, C. E., Young, E., Macklin, E. A., Locatelli, E. R., Silani, V., Heitzman, D., Wymer, J., Goutman, S. A., Gelinas, D. F., Perry, B., Nalipinski, P., Stipancic, K., O'Brien, M., Sullivan, S. L., Pioro, E. P., Gargiulo, G., Green, J. R., & Subcommittee, C. M. o. t. N. B. (2019). Provisional best practices guidelines for the evaluation of bulbar dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Muscle & Nerve, 59(5), 531-536. https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.26408

Smith, M., Costello, J.M. 3rd Edition. (April 2021). Clinical Applications of Speech Synthesis. In e. a. Ball (Ed.), Phonetics for Speech Pathology.

Allen, A. A., Schlosser, R. W., Brock, K. L., & Shane, H. C. (2017). The effectiveness of aided augmented input techniques for persons with developmental disabilities: a systematic review. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 33(3), 149-159. https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2017.1338752

Allen, A. A., Shane, H. C., & Schlosser, R. W. (2018). The Echo™ as a Speaker-Independent Speech Recognition Device to Support Children with Autism: an Exploratory Study. Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 2(1), 69-74. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41252-017-0041-5

Choe, N., Shane, H., Schlosser, R. W., Haynes, C. W., & Allen, A. (2020). Directive-Following Based on Graphic Symbol Sentences Involving an Animated Verb Symbol: An Exploratory Study. Communication Disorders Quarterly, 0(0), 1525740120976332. https://doi.org/10.1177/1525740120976332

Harmon, A. C., Schlosser, R. W., Gygi, B., Shane, H. C., Kong, Y.-Y., Book, L., Macduff, K., & Hearn, E. (2014). Effects of Environmental Sounds on the Guessability of Animated Graphic Symbols. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 30(4), 298-313. https://doi.org/10.3109/07434618.2014.966206

Hemsley, B., Bryant, L., Schlosser, R. W., Shane, H. C., Lang, R., Paul, D., Banajee, M., & Ireland, M. (2018). Systematic review of facilitated communication 2014–2018 finds no new evidence that messages delivered using facilitated communication are authored by the person with disability. Autism & Developmental Language Impairments, 3, 2396941518821570. https://doi.org/10.1177/2396941518821570

Juhlin, D., Morris, C., Schmaltz, P., Shane, H., Schlosser, R., O’Brien, A., Yu, C., Mancini, D., Allen, A., & Abramson, J. (2019). The PTC and Boston Children’s Hospital Collaborative AR Experience for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. In M. Antona & C. Stephanidis, Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction. Multimodality and Assistive Environments Cham.

O'Brien, A., O'Brien, M., Schlosser, R. W., Yu, C., Allen, A. A., Flynn, S., Costello, J., & Shane, H. C. (2017). Repurposing Consumer Products as a Gateway to Just-in-Time Communication. Semin Speech Lang, 38(4), 297-312. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0037-1604277

O’Brien, A., Schlosser, R. W., Shane, H. C., Abramson, J., Allen, A. A., Flynn, S., Yu, C., & Dimery, K. (2016). Brief Report: Just-in-Time Visual Supports to Children with Autism via the Apple Watch:® A Pilot Feasibility Study. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46(12), 3818-3823. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2891-5

O’Brien, A. M., Schlosser, R. W., Shane, H., Wendt, O., Yu, C., Allen, A. A., Cullen, J., Benz, A., & O’Neill, L. (2020). Providing visual directives via a smart watch to a student with Autism Spectrum Disorder: an intervention note. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 36(4), 249-257. https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2020.1862299

O’Brien, A. M., Schlosser, R. W., Yu, C., Allen, A. A., & Shane, H. C. (2020) Repurposing a Smartwatch to Support Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Sensory and Operational Considerations. Journal of Special Education Technology. https://doi.org/10.1177/0162643420904001

Schlosser, R. W., Balandin, S., Hemsley, B., Iacono, T., Probst, P., & von Tetzchner, S. (2014). Facilitated Communication and Authorship: A Systematic Review. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 30(4), 359-368. https://doi.org/10.3109/07434618.2014.971490

Schlosser, R. W., Brock, K. L., Koul, R., Shane, H., & Flynn, S. (2019). Does Animation Facilitate Understanding of Graphic Symbols Representing Verbs in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder? Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 62(4), 965-978. https://doi.org/10.1044/2018_JSLHR-L-18-0243

Schlosser, R. W., Hemsley, B., Shane, H., Todd, J., Lang, R., Lilienfeld, S. O., Trembath, D., Mostert, M., Fong, S., & Odom, S. (2019). Rapid Prompting Method and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Systematic Review Exposes Lack of Evidence. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 6(4), 403-412. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40489-019-00175-w

Schlosser, R. W., Koul, R., & Costello, J. (2007). Asking well-built questions for evidence-based practice in augmentative and alternative communication. Journal of Communication Disorders, 40(3), 225-238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcomdis.2006.06.008

Schlosser, R. W., Koul, R., Shane, H., Sorce, J., Brock, K., Harmon, A., Moerlein, D., & Hearn, E. (2014). Effects of Animation on Naming and Identification Across Two Graphic Symbol Sets Representing Verbs and Prepositions. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 57(5), 1779-1791. https://doi.org/doi:10.1044/2014_JSLHR-L-13-0193

Schlosser, R. W., Laubscher, E., Sorce, J., Koul, R., Flynn, S., Hotz, L., Abramson, J., Fadie, H., & Shane, H. (2013). Implementing Directives that Involve Prepositions with Children with Autism: A Comparison of Spoken Cues with Two Types of Augmented Input. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 29(2), 132-145. https://doi.org/10.3109/07434618.2013.784928

Schlosser, R. W., O’Brien, A., Yu, C., Abramson, J., Allen, A. A., Flynn, S., & Shane, H. C. (2017). Repurposing everyday technologies to provide just-in-time visual supports to children with intellectual disability and autism: a pilot feasibility study with the Apple Watch®. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 63(4), 221-227. https://doi.org/10.1080/20473869.2017.1305138

Schlosser, R. W., Shane, H., Sorce, J., Koul, R., & Bloomfield, E. (2011). Identifying Performing and Under Performing Graphic Symbols for Verbs and Prepositions in Animated and Static Formats: A Research Note. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 27(3), 205-214. https://doi.org/10.3109/07434618.2011.592217

Schlosser, R. W., Shane, H., Sorce, J., Koul, R., Bloomfield, E., Debrowski, L., DeLuca, T., Miller, S., Schneider, D., & Neff, A. (2012). Animation of Graphic Symbols Representing Verbs and Prepositions: Effects on Transparency, Name Agreement, and Identification. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 55(2), 342-358. https://doi.org/doi:10.1044/1092-4388(2011/10-0164)

Schlosser, R. W., Shane, H. C., Allen, A. A., Abramson, J., Laubscher, E., & Dimery, K. (2016). Just-in-Time Supports in Augmentative and Alternative Communication. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 28(1), 177-193. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-015-9452-2

Schlosser, R. W., Shane, H. C., Allen, A. A., Benz, A., Cullen, J., O’Neill, L., Chiesa, L., Miori-Dinneen, L., Koul, R., & Pasupathy, R. (2020). Coaching a School Team to Implement the Visual Immersion System™ in a Classroom for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Mixed-Methods Proof-of-Concept Study. Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 4(4), 447-470. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41252-020-00176-5

Schlosser, R. W., Shane, H. C., Allen, A. A., Yu, C. O’Brien, A. O., Cullen, J., Benz, A., O’Neil, L., Chiesa, L., & Miori-Dineen, L. (2021). Implementing the Visual Immersion System™ in a classroom for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Challenges and solutions. In B. Ogletree (Ed.), Augmentative and alternative communication: Challenges and solutions (pp. 283-312). Plural Publishing Inc.

Schlosser, R. W., Sigafoos, J., Shane, H. C., Koul, R., & Raghavendra, P. . (2014). Augmentative and alternative communication. In J. K. Luiselli (Ed.), Children and youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD): Recent advances and innovations in assessment, education, and intervention (pp. 101-122). Oxford University Press.

Shane, H., Abramson, J., Corley, K., Fadie, H., Flynn, S., Laubscher, E., Schlosser, R., Sorce, J. (2015). Enhancing Communication for Individuals with Autism: A Guide to the Visual Immersion System. Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.

Shane, H. C., Laubscher, E. H., Schlosser, R. W., Flynn, S., Sorce, J. F., & Abramson, J. (2012). Applying Technology to Visually Support Language and Communication in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42(6), 1228-1235. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-011-1304-z

Shane, H. C., O'Brien, M., & Sorce, J. (2009). Use of a Visual Graphic Language System to Support Communication for Persons on the Autism Spectrum. Perspectives on Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 18(4), 130-136. https://doi.org/doi:10.1044/aac18.4.130

Yu, C., Shane, H., Schlosser, R. W., O’Brien, A., Allen, A., Abramson, J., & Flynn, S. (2018). An Exploratory Study of Speech-Language Pathologists Using the Echo Show™ to Deliver Visual Supports. Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 2(3), 286-292. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41252-018-0075-3