It is daunting enough to be hospitalized without having communication limitations due to developmental or acquired communication disabilities. As a 'tech-nerd' psycholinguist and a speech pathologist experienced in working with children with developmental disabilities, Hurtig (communication sciences and disorders, U. of Iowa) and Downey (a UI doctoral candidate) describe issues in and strategies for implementing an alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) program in acute care settings. Following historical background on AAC, they present details of the Iowa assessment protocol and modifications to nurse call systems. Chapters include case studies, images of assistive technology (AT) products, and cross-references to video clips on the accompanying DVD. Assessment exercises, AAC manufacturers, and other AAC/AT resources are appended. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)