Complex Communication Needs

A term describing the communication challenges faced by individuals who cannot rely on speech alone to meet all their communication needs in daily life. People with complex communication needs may use a combination of speech, gestures, sign language, communication boards, and high-tech AAC devices to express themselves. CCN can result from conditions including cerebral palsy, autism, intellectual disability, aphasia, ALS, and traumatic brain injury. The term emphasizes the complexity of the communication challenge rather than labeling the person as non-verbal.