This is because the device may be useful initially but the user may soon develop more advanced skills and require a much more complex device. The team needs to be able to estimate the progress the user will make in developing their skills in the future and match this up with the needs of the user in the future. The potential complexity of the communication device can also play a part in this decision. Some users of communication devices start with a simple device and then as they develop and new machines are developed they move onto using a more complex device. Output When making a decision about a suitable communication device for an individual it is important to consider what output options the user is offered when they have made a selection.
Some communication devices offer visual output, usually in the form of a display on a screen.
Output from a device can also be auditory , usually in the form of a spoken message. The message itself may be delivered using digitised or synthetic speech. The needs of the user's communication partners can be important here as a communication device that only offers text messages displayed on a screen is only of use to a user who always communicates with people who can read. This feedback needs to be matched to the user's skills and also to their preferences. Some users, for example, may need auditory feedback to help them select the words they want, others may find that auditory feedback after each selection is useful to help reassure them that they have selected the item they wanted.