Hi Kelly,

Good questions. I wanted to add:

1. Eye gaze may not necessarily the best access method for an individual at a given time.

It's important to take a features-matching approach, and to do an assessment. There are some people who have a significant disability who might be better off using a hand mouse or a head mouse. They may transition to eye gaze at a later date, but for the time being using a simpler access method might be easier/more successful.

2. If a person has limited success with eye gaze, consider using scanning or Morse code.

3. Low tech and call buttons are an important part of AAC.

My personal set of priorities when setting up an individual with AAC:

a. Call button

b. Low tech

c. High tech.

I would be happy to talk with you about low tech options for people with ALS off the list. You don't necessarily have to buy low tech- you can make it yourself. But it's important to know what the options are - (lasers, communication boards, E-TRAN boards, scanning boards, etc.)

Take care,

Margaret Cotts

Low Tech Solutions

From: "Mangione, Kelly" <xxxxxx@SITRIN.com>
To: "'xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com'" <xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com>
Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2017 12:45 PM
Subject: AAC Help

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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