Maria is a 35-year-old woman who sustained a severe traumati…
Maria is a 35-year-old woman who sustained a severe traumatic brain injury in a car accident six months ago. She was previously independent, working as a marketing professional and living with her spouse. After a prolonged hospital stay, Maria is currently at an inpatient rehab facility. She presents with significant motor impairments on her right side, cognitive-communication challenges (especially with attention and memory), and severely reduced speech intelligibility due to apraxia and dysarthria. Maria can write with her left hand but tires easily. She uses facial expressions, limited vocalizations, and gestures to communicate basic needs. Her spouse reports that Maria becomes frustrated when she’s misunderstood, especially when trying to share opinions or engage in conversation. The rehabilitation team is considering AAC supports to improve Maria’s expressive communication. Why is it important to provide Maria with a robust AAC system, even if she currently uses gestures and writing?