Just for your FYI - The national ALS Association has a free technology kit of laminated communication boards. Having these packets is handy to give to  patients when their other equipment is not available or they have nothing else.

 

 

 

Hello,

I am fairly new to the world of ALS as well as have limited background with AAC. The following topics/questions come to mind:

 

Eye gaze technology:

Are there any statistics on rate of use with an eye gaze device (i.e., similar to how many wpm one can type)?

Also any thoughts on how long it typically takes a patient to learn how to efficiently use an eye gaze device for basic communicate needs?

We have had good luck borrowing eye gaze devices from the local ALS association.  

 

Other AAC Options:

I am working on an inpatient unit so obtaining new devices is not easy as well as not always time efficient by the time a patient requires care 24/7. In simple terms (remember-I’m a newbie J), what are some favorite quick, effective, and cost friendly communication options that could be purchased to have on hand? I’m also struggling with AAC options that work well with our cognitively impaired ALS patients so thoughts are welcomed.

 

For verbal patients with no bulbar symptoms when should AAC be introduced-again in an ideal world I understand sooner is better but with limited resources, limited staffing, limited staff experience, and varying cognitive statuses I’m trying to prioritize the best I can.   

 

I’m trying to understand the norms to help support our staffing needs, set realistic goals for treatment as well as daily time management. Ugh and goals-that is hard to measure too. I am trying to be proactive and do my “homework” but the info is limited in some regards, requires you to be very tech savvy and/or is put in terms of an ideal situations/settings such as being able to have access to all AAC options and/or having time to dedicate the whole work day to ALS and AAC.

 

I greatly appreciate any information, resources, etc that anyone is willing to share.

 

Thank you,

Kelly

 

Kelly Mangione, MS, CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist

Charles T. Sitrin Healthcare Center

2050 Tilden Avenue

New Hartford, NY 13413

(315) 737-2462

Fax (315) 735-7804

 

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