There are Technologies Available.
There is some wonderful electronic equipment available for people with communication problems both for hearing impaired and for those with expressive difficulties. A few will be mentioned in this article.
•
Photo Phone: This telephone combines a large visual keypad, easy to recognize photo programmable buttons and an amplification of sound. It can be programed with up to nine photo-dial buttons with photos of the most frequently called. One dial button is illuminated for an emergency number. This can be used by people with low vision, memory difficulties and or hearing loss.
•
Speech Amplification: This is a body-worn personal speech amplifier designed to increase the volume of a weak or esophageal voice.
•
Recorded message device: This is a hand held device to aid in everyday communication
for someone who has had a stroke and has a mild to moderate expressive aphasia
(difficulty with ability to recall or formulate words) or dysarthria (motor speech
problem causing speech to be difficult to understand). A family member or caregiver
records the message for the user. The user can press any of the 15 buttons depending
on the message he or she wishes to express. Words or pictures can be placed on
each button for easy identification of the message. Recorded message device:
This is a hand held device to aid in everyday communication for someone who has
had a stroke and has a mild to moderate expressive aphasia (difficulty with ability
to recall or formulate words) or dysarthria (motor speech problem causing speech
to be difficult to understand). A family member or caregiver records the message
for the user. The user can press any of the 15 buttons depending on the message
he or she wishes to express. Words or pictures can be placed on each button for
easy identification of the message.
•
Sonic telephone ringers or doorbell signalers: These devises are connected to a lamp. When the telephone rings or doorbell is activated the lamp flashes. These devices are helpful for people with severe hearing impairments. There are also devices that are activated by someone knocking on the door
•
TV infrared system: This system makes TV listening more enjoyable for the whole
family. The transmitter connects directly to the TV or audio equipment output
jack or can be used with the microphone and self-adhesive clips. The person with
a hearing impairment can put on the ear phones and adjust the volume while other
listeners listen at a normal sound level.
These are just a few of the exciting tools available. It is recommended that you consult an audiologist or speech-language pathologist before purchasing a device. Keep in mind that while high tech devises can be helpful tools, there are also many simple techniques that can be used to improve communications.
There are many businesses that specialize in these type
of products. Shop around. You can order a free catalog of assistive communication
products through HITEC by calling 1-800-288-8303,
TTY 1-800-536-8890 or go to their website at www.hitec.com.
