I’m a big fan of Predictable.  You don’t need to leave the app to post on Facebook, Twitter, send a text or email.  You say in the app instead of flipping in and out of various apps. 

 

I have a hand out I give for iPad apps, below.

 

If someone is considering an Android, there are very FEW communication apps so I advise them to purchase an android tablet that is running Windows 8 or 10 then we can utilize free or low cost AAC software.

 

Thanks,

 

iPad apps for communication

 

Verbally (Free)

A unique, simple design allows users to communicate quickly and effectively in any setting.

• Core Words Grid offers over 50 essential words, which can save a person over 50% of the taps required to input sentences
• Core Phrases Grid offers a dozen common phrases to enable faster & easier conversation
• Text Prediction that learns the words & names you use and makes entering thoughts significantly faster than typing
• Three Keyboard Layouts so that you can find the one that's best (alphabet layout if the user isn’t familiar with QWERTY)
• Choice of Male or Female Voices
• No WiFi or 3G connection required
• Only works on iPad, not iPhone

Speak It ($1.99)

• Easy to use interface: simply enter the text you want to say, and press the “Speak it! button
• Four high quality voices are included: American Male, American Female, British Male, British    Female
• Highlights words as they are spoken
• Ability to create audio files and email them
• Save as many phrases as you would like, and easily repeat them later
• Pause and resume speech playback
• Change the volume, as well as the speed of spoken text
• Change the font size of the text field
• Designed to be used while on a phone call
• Localized for French, Italian, German, and Spanish

·       iPad and iPhone compatible

Proloquo4Text $119.99

Proloquo4Text™ is a text‑based communication app that gives a voice to literate children, teens and adults who cannot speak. It is designed to enable easy conversation and full participation in society. It achieves this through a customizable single screen layout with quick access to personal phrases, word and sentence prediction and other effort-saving features. Free voices in over 15 languages are included to enable natural-sounding communication.

Proloquo4Text is a very intuitive text-to-speech app that puts the user in control. Next generation word and sentence prediction immediately make this app stand out. Powerful communication tools can be used to compose messages in record time.

Communicate with ease
• Speak using single screen access to words, phrases and keyboard
• Create, save and organize commonly used phrases
• Easily switch between conversations

Reduce effort
• Reduce typing with advanced, self-learning PolyPredix™ word prediction
• Type once and say it again with history and sentence prediction
• Decide when you speak with play, pause and speak as you type

Access easily
• Optimized for Switch Control and VoiceOver
• Enhance visual feedback with optional sentence or word highlighting
• Adjust appearance (font, color, text size) to your needs

Customize to your needs
• Individualize the screen layout to match your communication style
• Configure prediction, abbreviation expansion and privacy settings
• Add character and humor to your conversations with free specialty voices
• Use a my-own-voice Text to Speech voice

·       Proloquo4Text offers 100+ natural-sounding Text to Speech voices in 18 languages, including specialty voices. All the voices can all be downloaded for FREE within the app. 

·       Languages: Arabic, Australian, Brazilian Portuguese, Canadian French, Catalonian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finland Swedish, Finnish, Flemish, French, German, Greek, Indian English, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Scottish English, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, UK English, US English, US Spanish

 

·       iPad and iPhone compatible

 

Predictable  $159.99

Multi-award winning app for people with speech disabilities who need a sleek, simple and smart way to communicate! Predictable allows a person to type a message using the intelligent word prediction, which learns their pattern of use, making prediction even faster. Use Nuance voices, record your own voice saying familiar phrases or use your voice banked ModelTalker voice.
Save phrases in the phrase bank for quick access; add items to Favorites and set up the features for a more personalized experience. Switch accessible; people can use the app with significant physical disabilities using one or two switches.
Predictable 4 now allows people to use ModelTalker voices for an even more personal experience. People can bank their voice and then directly use it within Predictable, in an exclusive feature for this app!
Now with Skype integration; specialist subject dictionaries; YouTube, iTunes and more – this best-selling app is now even better.

Features:
• Prediction engine for both British and American spelling, with intelligent word prediction and learning of new words and dyslexia support options
• ModelTalker Voice banking allows you to use your own synthesised voice to communicate
• 24 high quality Nuance Voices – 5 American, 4 British, 2 Australian, 1 Irish, 1 Scottish, 1 South African, 1 Turkish, 1 Indian, 1 Dutch, 1 French, 2 German, 1 Italian, 1 Russian, 2 Spanish
• 2 ModelTalker voices
•Possibility to change the rate of the iOS voice
• News Feed to keep up with the latest news from around the world
• Skype with friends and family using the Predictable voice
• Link your phrases in categories to YouTube videos, iTunes songs or website URLs
• 5 thematic dictionaries for specialist subjects
• Accessible via Bluetooth switch box + switch/es (compatible with Therapy Box SwitchBox and RJ Cooper Switch Interface)
• Compatible with the iOS method of scanning
• Easy to use category folder system to store quick phrases or prepared message
• History view with access to latest phrases
• Use the whole screen as a switch with scanning (Touch Anywhere method)
• Send SMS**, Email*, update Facebook* or send a tweet on Twitter*
• Replace the keyboard with a note pad for on-screen hand-writing that works with the word prediction
• Customize your screen with different colors
• Options for increased auditory prompting and visual feedback
•Change colour and opacity of the text and background in the quick keys, the keyboard keys, and the word prediction bar
•Ability to increase the size of the word prediction text

Flip Writer (non-speech free. With speech $24.99)

Designed by researchers from Stanford University and trusted by thousands of schools and hospitals worldwide, Flip Writer AAC delivers effective and empowering tools for adults and children with speech or hearing impairments and other complex needs.

"Thanks for creating an awesome app, we will produce handouts with screenshots for our families!" - Therese Willkomm Ph.D., Department of Occupational Therapy, University of New Hampshire


▶ Tools for Speech Impairment:

◆ Type a message on Flip Writer, and this message is displayed on two displays, one facing you and a second outfacing display for your communication partner(s).

◆ Tap the large white flipped display for high-quality Text-to-Speech. Double-tap to play a loud chime.

◆ The very large tap surface for Text-to-Speech is extremely useful for those with motor difficulties. The entire white flipped

 

 

 

 

Hi Everyone,

 

This is my first time posting – I’m hoping to get a few thoughts on which iPad (or Android) apps are the best for someone with ALS who is very intelligent, runs a business, etc. but has bulbar onset.

 

Cost isn’t an issue, but I want to make sure I look at a few different solutions before advising him – he hasn’t purchased a tablet yet (so iPad vs. Samsung vs. Dell, etc?!)

 

My typical go-to app is Verbally, but I know there may be some better ones out there.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Joanna

 

 

Joanna C Burgess MA, CCC-SLP

Outpatient Therapy Supervisor – La Jolla

Speech-Language Pathologist

UC San Diego Health

9300 Campus Point Drive

Mail Code 7779

La Jolla, CA 92037

 

Ph: 858-657-7990

Fax: 858-657-1809

Call Center: 855-543-0333