The approach is used with individuals who, due to sickness or disability, have severe motor impairments and good memory and attention skills.
[1] It is used as an alternative to direct access (e.g. pointing) to symbols, pictures, or speech generating devices when these are not used.
[2] Partner-assisted scanning is a technique used with children who have severe motor and communication impairments, and especially those with additional visual impairment, those who do not yet have an established alternative form of communication, or who are unable to use their usual method, perhaps because their electronic speech output device is being repaired.
Visual scanning may also be accomplished by the partner pointing to pictures, such as those in a personal communication book, using an agreed upon pattern.
The partner orally lists the options and then repeats them so the communicator can make a selection.
[10] Jean-Dominique Bauby, who had locked-in syndrome, used partner-assisted scanning to communicate and to write his book The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.