Assistive Communications Devices

TommysDad · #1 02-19-2008, 03:12 PM

Do any of your nontalkers use a communications device to communicate with those that do not know sign language? We are looking at getting one for Tommy. My concern is that he is flying with sign language, and the board that they want to get us has 20 or so words that can be programmed in, and you can change out the page and have up to 7 pages recorded. I am afraid that he will outgrow this pretty quickly, and would like to try to get him the better board, even if we have to pay a decent share of the upgrade. Is anyone else using anything? What do you like/not like?

cariaad · #2 02-19-2008, 03:21 PM

We used PECS with Allison, and also briefly had a Go-Talk (like you described). She had 3 Talking Notepads that we magneted to the fridge, one said "I'd like a snack please", "I'd like a drink please" and "I need to use the bathroom." They were a tremendous help (the notepads). The PECS was great, all the therapists said Allison could be a poster child for it, she was making sentences and using modifiers (size, color, position etc) but at age 5 1/2 she decided to talk and now that's all she'll do. If he is signing well I'd stick with that. I wanted to learn to sign with Alli but Mike didnt like the idea so we never learned more than thank you and a few others...All that being said, Allison's speech isnt very clear (I'd love to catch her on a video) and many people can't make it out. The kids at school are best, then me and Mike, then Linda (her nurse) then her teachers. We just struggle along with it. I'd love to find something she'd use. Deb

LKN · #3 02-19-2008, 03:45 PM

We had the smae debate in our home. We had one ST who really pushed the devices. Nathan now signs like 500 words--at last count. He signs faster than the boards respond. We have let the board go at this point. We are focusing on getting him to "say and sign." When (and if) he is decannulated, we will see what he can do on his own, but we know he will probably end up with a device of some sort. The new ST thinks he will be able to figure out how to use any device. We just can't anticipate right now knowing what kind he will want/need in the future so it is not worth it for us to invest in the device.

The good device they were looking at for nathan was like $6000 for a base model. We tried the unit with the boxes and the pictures and the multi-layers. He figured it out very quickly and lost interest just as fast.

Kate · #4 02-19-2008, 04:06 PM

We are at basically the same point-we have always taken a whole language approach to see what type of communication Mitchell takes to. He does sign about 40 words, but he really has poor fine motor-so many of his signs look the same. We are now focusing more on PECS and he really seems to like that-he has always taken a liking to pictures so I think that PECS may be the way to go with him. I'd say stick with what he is showing he likes-if he is making a lot of progress with signing, go with it. There is a lot of different ideas on which is better-our dr doesn't like PECS or a device-he prefers signing. I think that is great, but not everyone knows sign language--and honestly really nobody does around here when we are out and about. The down side to a device is that you have to bring it around all the time. (Like his dr says-you always have your hands) I think it really is a personal decision-devices are so cool and they are coming up with some amazing things on them...but they can be spendy as well and like you said, to upgrade is also spendy.
Good luck!!

JWorthington · #5 02-19-2008, 04:19 PM

Sam signs a lot, but because he is in school now and learning so quickly, he has suddenly decided that he needs to finger spell EVERY word, which is pretty time consuming. We are in the process of getting him a laptop to produce speech on and this will incorporate some speech software. He is pretty computer savvy now, so they are getting him something that he just types and it speaks, but Sam is 5 now and really into computers, I think this will really help him.

Julie

cariaad · #6 02-19-2008, 04:42 PM

Oh Julie,please please post when you get it! I want something simnilar for Allison but dont know what to ask for. That sounds great! Deb

madelyn and rynns mom · #7 02-19-2008, 07:46 PM

We have a Dynavox MT4 for Maddy.

http://sandbox.dynavoxtech.com/Default.aspx?tabid=35

And she has 2 GoTalk 9+, and a Pocket GoTalk for when on the move.

http://www.gokeytech.com/gotalk_9+.htm

http://store.grovergear.com/pocketgotalk.html

All work very well!! She is talking so much now, even though you really have to know her speaking patterns to understand her sometimes, that she has not used her communicators in a while. They are kept at school for when she needs them for activities. She also signs a lot when she can not get her point across verbally.

Hope this helps!!!

Love Kris

Melisande · #8 02-19-2008, 10:30 PM

Ditto here. We used PECS for a while and we just got approved for a Dynavox. Donovan signs and answers questions and points very well, but the whole language thing is a big deal. I think it will help him a lot because he clearly has much better receptive language than expressive.

WeAdoptKids · #9 02-19-2008, 11:31 PM

It seems to me that they start them out small and then as they show they can do it, they advance them. I am surprised that you are even thinking about buying one this early. Our children have always been on loaners during the early stages. Before you buy one, you may want to think about looking into a loaner until you settle on what the needs really are. Mordachi is just now going to the most advanced one of the type he is using. Forgive as I do not know the name of it as I was only called about it Friday.

He has shown that he can do it so they are pushing forward to have it purchased for him. It will be paid for...half through the school district and half through Medicaid. It will be his.

I will find out the name of it and let you know what it is.

Good luck,
Roberta