What is one method used to develop fringe vocabulary?

Developing fringe vocabulary is essential for enhancing communication in individuals using AAC devices, as fringe vocabulary refers to words or phrases that are specific to a user’s personal experiences, interests, and needs. Conducting ecological inventories and interviews stands out as an effective method for this purpose because it involves direct interaction with the individual and their environment.

By engaging in ecological inventories, practitioners can observe the contexts and settings where the user communicates, identifying specific vocabulary that may not be included in traditional language models. Interviews further enhance this process because they allow caregivers or practitioners to discuss what vocabulary relates to the user's everyday activities, preferences, and social interactions. This method ensures that the vocabulary developed is personalized and relevant, ultimately leading to improved communication effectiveness for the AAC user.

The other methods, while beneficial in their own contexts, do not specifically focus on gathering personalized vocabulary in the same way that ecological inventories and interviews do. For example, creating a library of texts or using online databases may offer general vocabulary or topics, but they do not necessarily tailor the vocabulary to the individual's unique experiences. Making flashcards can be useful for learning or reinforcing specific terms, but it lacks the tailored approach of observing and interviewing a user in their natural context to gather meaningful, personalized vocabulary.