I have an individual with the same diagnosis but she has progressive significantly over the last two years. She needs visual and pictures now although she does still  have some residuals of spelling.  Her reading has also deteriorated and so has her auditory comprehension and the  assist here as well..  I selected Proloquo2go for her at the beginning (although there were not a lot of AAC apps out)and she primarily used the keyboard with words prediction. I felt that she also benefitted from the option of using list view for activities, steps in tasks, etc.  I went with this for the list view  and the option of the original versions category set-up but also thought of several other good AAC apps having good word prediction.  I liked the symbol option with  the word prediction and although she did not turn that on for quite a while she still uses it now.  She has moved to still using the old category set-up which we brought over to the new version for finding many one item things she needs.  She and the family like the iPad because they also have apps on it that she can use to try to maintain and also continue her leisure interests.   Your client could also start with another text to speech only app and then change if needed at little cost which is one of the iPads advantages.  If it is PPA you will need flexibility of options.  At times she also goes into Google images and starts to type a word and then selects from  its predictions and finds a picture of what she wants etc—clever on she and her family’s part.  The internet is also great for her and you can use the bookmarks etc. With the email, Facebook and many other social media  options now within many AAC apps, the size, weight, etc seems like it could be an option with long range potential. This might be worth a try especially if the diagnosis is correct. Very devastating diagnosis as this lady’s motor skills are still good-golf, tennis but her language and cognitive skills have changed drastically.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE: Communication System - User needs Text
From: "Margaret Cotts" <xxxxxx@pacbell.net>
Date: Fri, May 17, 2013 8:32 pm
To: <xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com>

‘Hi Antoinette,

One other thought….

 

Why not use a Netbook, and change the orientation of the screen?  (So, the communication partner would be sitting in front of him, typing, with the screen down where he could see it. However, the  orientation of the screen would be flipped, so he could read it. )

 

Hope that makes sense.

 

Margaret Cotts

Low Tech Solutions

http://lowtechsolutions.org

 

 

From: xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com [mailto:xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com] On Behalf Of Margaret Cotts
Sent: Friday, May 17, 2013 8:17 PM
To: xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com
Subject: RE: Communication System - User needs Text

 

Hi Antoinette-

 

How about something like the UbiDuo?

 

It’s designed for people who are deaf, but it sounds like it might meet his needs….

 

http://www.idccommunications.com/corporate/hard-of-hearing/ubiduo/

 

Margaret Cotts

Low Tech Solutions

http://lowtechsolutions.org

 

From: xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com [mailto:xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com] On Behalf Of Antoinette
Sent: Friday, May 17, 2013 7:43 PM
To: xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com
Subject: Re: Communication System - User needs Text

 

The issue is in a face to face situation, he cannot see what the user is typing. Looking for a solution that would include a forward facing screen. 

Antoinette Verdone, MSBME, ATP

 

Phone: 512-497-6026

Fax: 888-501-1009

xxxxxx@ImproveAbility.com

 

 

DARS Provider# 1-274278960-0-000

 

 

"One cannot consent to creep when one has the impulse to soar." Helen Keller

On May 17, 2013, at 12:12 PM, "Dellea, Margaret M." <xxxxxx@BICS.BWH.HARVARD.EDU> wrote:

How about an iPad?  He could use the notes app, with a “instruction page” to hand to the communication partner.

Most people are familiar with the iPad and its keyboard.  You can set the font for the notepad so it will be readable for him.  And the notes app does not require any Internet connection.

 

Peggy Dellea, MS, OT/L

Assistive Technology Center

Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

Charlestown, MA 02129

 

From: xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com [mailto:xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com] On Behalf Of xxxxxx@improveability.com
Sent: Friday, May 17, 2013 12:29 PM
To: ALS AT Listserv
Subject: Communication System - User needs Text

 

Forgive any cross posting.   Also, this is not specifically ALS related, but I wanted to see if anyone out there has ideas.

 

So, I am working with a client who has been diagnosed with Primary Progressive Aphasia.  This is my first encounter with this disease, and after doing research on it and meeting the client, I am a little skeptical that this is his actually disability, but no matter.  As he began having symptoms at age 19, and is now 30 years old and it does not appear that there has been any dramatic progression?  But, that is beside the point.

 

The issue is that the client does not understand spoken language.  He can understand written language.  We are looking for a solution where the communication partner could easily type questions/phrases such that the client could read them - he is able to verbally respond.  His speech is impaired, but he can be understood. 

 

He was loaned a Lightwriter, which would be a good solution for him, but the issue is that the display of the Lightwriter is too small.  He needs to be able to see the whole question/phrase as he needs to read it a couple times before he understands it.

 

Portability and looking "normal" is paramount and the system cannot require an internet connection.  Also, it needs to be a very simple, straight forward system as he will be handing off the device to the communication partner to communicate with him.  I was able to find a couple iOS apps that allow for texting via a bluetooth connection that I think would work, but my main concern is that the connection between the devices may drop off when not in use and would slow down the handing off procedure.  For example, he is at a store and wants to talk to someone, but has to fiddle with connecting the two devices and now the communication partner gets frustrated.  I just wanted to throw this unusual situation out to see if anyone any other suggestions.

 

 

Antoinette Verdone, MSBME, ATP

Owner, Rehabilitation Engineer

ImproveAbility, LLC

Office: 512-522-1705

Cell: 512-497-6026

Email: xxxxxx@improveability.com

Web: www.improveability.com

Fax: 888-501-1009

Address: 7301 Burnet Rd, Suite 102-265, Austin, TX 78757

 

DARS Provider# 1-274278960-0-000

"One cannot consent to creep when one has the impulse to soar" -- Helen Keller

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