{"id":3245,"date":"2018-06-26T09:45:47","date_gmt":"2018-06-26T17:45:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/abilitytools.org\/blog\/?p=3245"},"modified":"2018-06-26T13:10:16","modified_gmt":"2018-06-26T21:10:16","slug":"assistive-technology-for-living-with-aphasia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/abilitytools.org\/blog\/assistive-technology-for-living-with-aphasia\/","title":{"rendered":"Assistive Technology for Living with Aphasia"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Republished from: <a href=\"https:\/\/at3centerblog.com\/2018\/06\/18\/assistive-technology-for-living-with-aphasia\/\">AT3 Center News and Tips Page<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Written by: Eliza J. Anderson<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3246 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/abilitytools.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/Aphasia-blog.jpg\" alt=\"Two silhouettes or people facing each other and colorful question marks being passed back and forth \" width=\"640\" height=\"280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/abilitytools.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/Aphasia-blog.jpg 640w, https:\/\/abilitytools.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/Aphasia-blog-300x131.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/>June is National Aphasia Awareness Month. Let\u2019s #TalkAboutAphasia and #AAC!<\/h2>\n<p>The term \u201caphasia\u201d is unknown to most people, yet the condition is familiar. An estimated\u00a0<a title=\"opens in a new tab\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aphasia.org\/aphasia-faqs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2 million Americans have acquired ap<\/a><a title=\"opens in a new tab\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aphasia.org\/aphasia-faqs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hasia<\/a>\u00a0as result of\u00a0a stroke, traumatic brain injury or progressive neurological disorder. These are our neighbors, friends, and family who may struggle to recall words or have difficulty with speaking, understanding what is said, reading or writing (or all of the above). Symptoms vary dramatically but too often aphasia causes feelings of frustration and isolation. A person with aphasia is experiencing an impairment to their use of language, not to their intellect.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zjkgSCIXo3k?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The technology revolution has transformed aphasia evaluations (e.g.,\u00a0<a title=\"opens in a new tab\" href=\"http:\/\/praacticalaac.org\/praactical\/5-things-we-love-about-the-aac-evaluation-genie\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AAC Evaluation Genie<\/a>), aphasia therapy (e.g.,\u00a0<a title=\"opens in a new tab\" href=\"https:\/\/www.constanttherapy.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Constant Therapy)<\/a>\u00a0and especially communication (see below). Yet persons with aphasia and their family members are frequently unaware of the tools and strategies that can help them stay connected. Below we\u2019ve listed links to low, mid, and high-tech assistive technology (AT) commonly used by speech-language pathologists, AT specialists, caregivers and others who work with individuals with aphasia.<\/p>\n<p>These tools are entirely in the category of \u201caugmentative and alternative communication\u201d (<a title=\"opens in a new tab\" href=\"https:\/\/www.asha.org\/public\/speech\/disorders\/AAC\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AAC<\/a>). They are AT devices that can be explored with persons with aphasia following, ideally, a professional evaluation of their expressive and receptive language (speaking and listening) abilities. Low-tech AAC tools may be made by the user or caregiver. Mid and hi-tech AAC tools are devices commonly available for demonstration and to borrow from\u00a0<a title=\"opens in a new tab\" href=\"https:\/\/www.at3center.net\/stateprogram\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">your State AT Program<\/a>\u00a0(loaned for trial at no or nominal cost). Your State AT Program can also direct you to where to find the evaluation and training services necessary to get the most from assistive technology, including AAC.<\/p>\n<p>Aphasia is challenging for individuals and families. Finding ways to communicate, connect and bring forward interests and intellect is important for maintaining dignity and asserting personhood. Stay tuned for our next post: an aphasia and AAC story from Massachusetts.<\/p>\n<h4>Low-tech AAC for Persons with Aphasia<\/h4>\n<p>(hard-copy tools for pointing\/selecting)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Pictures in an album<br \/>\nUse a photo album with pictures that the user can point to for improved communication. Consider a\u00a0<a title=\"opens in a new tab\" href=\"https:\/\/abledata.acl.gov\/products?search_api_views_fulltext=talking+photo+album&amp;field_product_status=All&amp;items_per_page=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">talking photo album<\/a>\u00a0as a mid-tech option (with recorded messages assigned to pictures for selection).<\/li>\n<li><a title=\"opens in a new tab\" href=\"https:\/\/abledata.acl.gov\/product\/fab-frenchay-alphabet-board\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Alphabet boards<\/a><br \/>\nFor persons with aphasia who can spell but not speak their words.<\/li>\n<li><a title=\"opens in a new tab\" href=\"http:\/\/praacticalaac.org\/praactical\/5-ways-to-use-rating-scales-to-enhance-communication-with-aac\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rating Scales<\/a><br \/>\nTo help communicate preferences<\/li>\n<li><a title=\"opens in a new tab\" href=\"http:\/\/wongbakerfaces.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pain Scales<\/a><br \/>\nFamiliar to most of us from the doctors\u2019 office\/hospital.<\/li>\n<li><a title=\"opens in a new tab\" href=\"https:\/\/www.familytreetemplates.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Family Tree<\/a><br \/>\nFor remembering names<\/li>\n<li><a title=\"opens in a new tab\" href=\"http:\/\/www.patientprovidercommunication.org\/communication_tools.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">More Printable Communication Tools<\/a><br \/>\nFrom PatientProviderCommunication.org<\/li>\n<li><a title=\"opens in a new tab\" href=\"https:\/\/www.superduperinc.com\/products\/view.aspx?pid=vel10#.WyP20qdKjIU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Webber Communication Book<\/a><br \/>\nA product that can be purchased and customized to the user for communicating sentences and more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>High-tech AAC for Persons with Aphasia<\/h4>\n<p>(apps for tablet computers or AAC devices that have voice output\u2013also known as \u201cspeech generating devices\u201d or SGDs)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"opens in a new tab\" href=\"http:\/\/www.assistiveware.com\/product\/proloquo2go\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Proloquo2Go<\/a>\u00a0(app for iOS from Assistiveware)<br \/>\nAllows users to create sentences using symbols or letters that are then read aloud by a computer voice of the user\u2019s choosing. Pre-recorded messages may also be programmed for selection by the user. Robust, dynamic, research-based application.<\/li>\n<li><a title=\"opens in a new tab\" href=\"https:\/\/touchchatapp.com\/apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TouchChat<\/a>\u00a0(iOS app)<br \/>\nRobust AAC software that offers \u201cCommunication Journey: Aphasia\u201d \u2014 a vocabulary file containing features and vocabulary designed for individuals with aphasia.<\/li>\n<li><a title=\"opens in a new tab\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mytobiidynavox.com\/Store\/Compass\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Compass<\/a>\u00a0(Windows and iOS app from TobiiDynavox)<br \/>\nOffers a stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI) user profile.<\/li>\n<li><a title=\"opens in a new tab\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aphasia.com\/smalltalk-apps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Small Talk<\/a>\u00a0(iOS apps from Lingraphica)<br \/>\nFree apps with male and female user versions.<\/li>\n<li><a title=\"opens in a new tab\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aphasia.org\/stories\/tapgram-aphasia-social-media\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tapgram<\/a>\u00a0(web-based application for use with every device)<br \/>\nUsers can send messages to people in their lives by tapping on images and receive replies.<\/li>\n<li><a title=\"opens in a new tab\" href=\"http:\/\/www.talktablet.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TalkTablet<\/a>\u00a0(app for iOS, Android, Windows, and Kindle)<br \/>\nSimple to program, more affordable AAC with tech support.<\/li>\n<li><a title=\"opens in a new tab\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aphasia.com\/touchtalk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TouchTalk<\/a>\u00a0(device from Lingraphica)<br \/>\nThis is a \u201cdedicated device\u201d (not a mainstream-consumer tablet computer) with specialized software designed for persons with aphasia.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a title=\"opens in a new tab\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aphasia.org\/aphasia-resources\/communication-tips\/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwx43ZBRCeARIsANzpzb-pZOEnHRJYSOG02eo-9ITSC20USCZpX7gy5I2MiJ7KdscZvIB0gpcaArSpEALw_wcB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Learn more about communicating with individuals who have aphasia<\/a><br \/>\n<a title=\"opens in a new tab\" href=\"https:\/\/www.asha.org\/public\/speech\/disorders\/aphasia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Learn more about aphasia<\/a><\/p>\n<p>*Check out the AT Exchange to find some of these devices in your area:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/exchange.abilitytools.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/exchange.abilitytools.org\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Republished from: AT3 Center News and Tips Page Written by: Eliza J. Anderson June is National Aphasia Awareness Month. Let\u2019s #TalkAboutAphasia and #AAC! The term \u201caphasia\u201d is unknown to most people, yet the condition is familiar. An estimated\u00a02 million Americans have acquired aphasia\u00a0as result of\u00a0a stroke, traumatic brain injury or progressive neurological disorder. These are&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3252,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[50,51,52],"tags":[91,8,76],"class_list":["post-3245","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aac","category-apps","category-seniors","tag-aphasia","tag-apps-and-software","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/abilitytools.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3245","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/abilitytools.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/abilitytools.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abilitytools.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abilitytools.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3245"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/abilitytools.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3245\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3253,"href":"https:\/\/abilitytools.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3245\/revisions\/3253"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abilitytools.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3252"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/abilitytools.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3245"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abilitytools.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3245"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abilitytools.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3245"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}