Everyday Life
With ALS: A
Practical Guide
If
you have ALS, or care for someone who does, this practical guide
will answer many of your questions about equipment, therapies
and accessibility that arise over the course of the disease.
Chapter 6 -
Speech & Communication
Not only the muscles that produce
breathing but also those that produce speech will likely be
affected by ALS. An astonishing array of assistive technology
is now available to help you continue to communicate with others
despite the effects of the disease.
Augmentative,
Alternative Communication (AAC) Devices
AAC
Basics
While there’s a rapidly growing
number of choices in today’s market, most communication
devices follow the same basic idea: The user inputs the information
about what he or she wants to say, and the machine “speaks”
it. Methods of input differ, however, and AAC systems differ
by design, size and features.
Today’s AAC devices include dedicated machines designed solely for generating speech
or written text, and software programs for personal computers.
Specialized computer software can
turn a personal computer into a speech generator. EZ Keys by
WordsPlus is a popular program that offers a variety of access
options, input methods (such as using a mouse alternative) and
keystroke-saving features such as word prediction. Most people
install the programs on laptop computers for added portability.
Variety
of Systems
Most communication devices are
designed to be portable and durable. They’re generally
the size of a laptop or smaller, with handheld or palmtop devices
a recent innovation. But beware: Though handheld or palm computers
may be attractive, their small size may soon make them unmanageable
to a person with ALS.
In addition to the type of machine,
AAC users must also choose a type of system:
