Hi, My Mum is finding it increasingly difficult to speak. Partly due to volume and we have bought an ammplifier to help with that but i wondered if anyone had come across any useful aids or ipad apps to assist with non verbal communications ?
Richard
Hi Richard
Communication is a tough one for some. It is for my Liz.
There are standard things like alphabet boards. However she found that as her eyesight deteriorated she had trouble using it at the very point she needed it.
There is something in the U.S. where the person records words and then a device possibly working on eye movement triggers phrases through a speaker. Hopefully they will come here and post about it.
We found no solutions other than pointing to the part of the body which needed attention or to the object required. Liz even found that difficult as time went by.
We found the problem was that there are aids for those with poor sight and there are aids for people who cannot speak... but little for both.
Sorry not to be able to help very much.
I wonder, do you have an OT involved. Maybe they could help.
Best to you both
Kevin
Dear Richard,
My husband (79) also has CBD and is losing volume, word-formation and word retrieval. We are working with a non-profit group who help people with adapted technologies (for us it's an iPad programmed with phrases and picture/subject "buttons" to help G communicate. If we had found them earlier, we could have utilized his own voice speaking the text, but we have to use a robe-voice or the voice of one of the Techs now, as G's is too far gone.
The problem for us is G's lack of energy, apathy and cognitive exhaustion. He's finding it all just a bit too much and doesn't bother reaching for his "TalkPad" they way it is intended. So...my point is: How is your Mom's energy and cognitive focus? Could she learn to operate a communication program on an iPad? Would she be better with a laminated picture book or flip cards? (essentially all the stuff on the iPad but in "low-tech" style)
For what it's worth, G and I have learned that if he can get out a single key word like "socks" or "hurts" or "meatloaf" and let me zero in with guesses as to what he wants to do with that, it works better than him struggling to get out a sentence that starts with a bunch of not very descriptive words and him getting exhausted before I heard a "key" word. Don't know if I described what I mean very well.
If you look at our historic posts I'm certain we've talked a few times about communication and speech in the last 6 months or so. If you haven't searched historic strings before, you can go up to the upper right hand corner of the screen to the Search PSP Association window and type Communication or Speech and see what pops up. Kevin recommends using Google, but adding HealthUnlocked into the search query to get the best search returns for this site.
Please let us know what you decide - it's a topic that affects a lot of us here!
Best wishes
Anne G.
Richard, to piggyback on what Anne said, our local Parkinson's organization person was in favor of "voice banking," as it's called.
Thank you very much Anne. I think we will have much the same trouble with cognitive ability.
Is the program you have tried to use a app that can be bought or was it a
especially designed for you ? If an app - what was the name of it ? Many thanks
Richard
Look at Verbally in the Apple App Store. There is a free version to try to see if it helps any.
Good idea -try Verbally or there's a free version of Go Talk also a downloadable app. They will give you a sense of whether your mom has any enthusiasm for it before you spend the $$!
Anne G.
Forgot to answer you - the app the non profit is working with is an in-house app I believe...
Communication 
communication devices......
No communication
Communication App
Standing Aids 
