For some people who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), repeatedly pressing the same symbol, word or phrase can become a noticeable part of how they interact with their device.. When this happens frequently, particularly during therapy or learning activities, the immediate reaction may be to redirect the person or try to stop the repetition. For speech and language pathologists, however, the more useful starting point is not how to stop the behaviour, but what the behaviour may be doing for the AAC user.

As the population continues to age, SLPs are increasingly encountering individuals with cognitive decline in their daily practice. Cognitive-communication difficulties are no longer a niche area of speech and language therapy; but they are becoming a significant component of many caseloads, requiring clinicians to develop the knowledge and skills required to support this growing population