Autistic people with communication support needs can benefit from the use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). While research has considered the use of AAC to supplement communication and improve communication effectiveness, less is known about other potential outcomes across the lifespan such as wellbeing and social interaction. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesise current research regarding the use of AAC for autistic adults and children; exploring how AAC supports the individual's communication, adaptive functioning and quality of life.

The 69 included papers focused on a range of AAC types. The majority investigated speech-generating devices and low-tech picture exchange. Most used behavioural intervention techniques. Most papers focused only on children, with only three papers investigating outcomes of AAC use with adults. The results were largely descriptions of proximal outcomes, such as simple requests, with few considering generalisation of skills or distal outcomes such as quality of life. The quality of the papers was generally low, with limitations in study design and diagnostic ascertainment noted.

The article concludes AAC has the potential to be an important support for autistic people, however, evidence regarding the impact on the broad range of communication functions and quality of life is very limited. A greater focus on the impact of AAC on these areas is needed in both research and practice along with a stronger focus on adults and a greater range of AAC types.