ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to provide the reader an understanding of profound and multiple disabilities, the development of communication and, in particular, preverbal communication, assessment methods and strategies for intervention. Working with adults who have profound and multiple disabilities will always present with a challenge. Profound learning disability has been defined in many different ways. The incidence of visual impairment in people with profound and multiple disabilities varies considerably between studies. People with profound and multiple disabilities often have a number of specific problems concerned with eating and drinking, and these may be related to muscle tone around the mouth and face, or in the body generally. Epilepsy is a condition that is often associated with profound and multiple disabilities. Epilepsy is defined as ‘recurrent, episodic, uncontrolled electrical discharge from the brain. The Affective Communication Assessment was developed to provide a systematic way of analysing the reactions of people with profound and multiple disabilities to a variety of experiences.
