Keyboard

Type of exercises:

• Figurative language/expressions

Developed with SLT: Yes

Theory based: No, based on clinician experience

Record own speaking attempts: N/A

Correction of own speaking attempts: N/A

Easy to use?: Yes
 

Customisation/personalisation: No

Error handling: None

Prompts/cues given: None

Record results: Yes

Tutorials: Yes, online

Free trial: Yes but not the complete program

Support: Via Livechat or the suppliers can take over the user’s PC. All support takes place 9am-5pm New York time.

Comments:

• The online subscription allows access to all the modules available so as the user progresses they don’t need to purchase new modules. It feels like an app when downloaded on an ipad
• The CD version has more functions than the internet version
• A download version exists for $19.95 per program but works only on Windows, not mac  
• Some of the expressions are very American

N.B:
    
    Voice is American and computer generated
    No visual rewards for correct answers

Type of exercises:

• Verbal word finding of sounds and single words.
• Hear the sound, see a video of the mouthshape and then produce it yourself.

Developed with SLT: Yes

Theory based: Yes

Record own speaking attempts: Yes

Correction of own speaking attempts: No

Customisation/personalisation: No

Error handling: Yes. Spoken word & mouth shape video cues given.

Prompts/cues given: Yes. Spoken & video (silent or with sound)

Tutorials: Yes

Free trial: Yes

Support: Free phone and online support

Comments:

• Can listen to recordings of attempts in previous sessions to compare
• Can attempt each sound in turn or in random order

N.B:
  Free trial available: speech sounds on cue for ipad lite
  N.B: only available through the app store, not through the developer's site
 

Brief description

• Free, text to speech app. You type in text and it reads it aloud.
• You can save your messages to use again,  instantly, without having to re-type your message
   

Talking word processor (speaks out letters, words, sentences)

Talking spell checker (identifies potential mistakes and offers alternatives which you can listen to before selecting)

Talking dictionary (simplified definitions given which you can listen to before selecting)

Homophone checker (alternatives suggested with a definition to aid selection)

Who could benefit

• People who struggle to write long sentences
• People who make frequent spelling and/or grammar mistakes

Brief description

• Free text to speech program
• Works in Microsoft programs, webpages, PDF files and emails
• No copy and paste required: uses its own task bar
• Can also magnify text and change the font colour, style and size to aid reading

Who could benefit

• People who struggle to read
• People with visual difficulties

Brief description

• Reading & writing tool designed for children but can be very helpful for people with aphasia who need help with writing & spelling
• Word prediction (can be personalised)
• Word & phrase banks by topic or A-Z (can be personalised)
• Written or picture supported word banks
• Hear words before selecting
• Listen back to what you have written
• Make voice notes to rehearse a sentence before writing it

Who could benefit

• People who have some spelling but who need writing & spelling prompts
• People who have no spelling but who would like to write letters/cards
  
   

Brief description

• Word prediction (in any web & Windows application)
• On screen keyboard
• List of up to 12 word predictions
• Can customise the dictionary to improve prediction
• Text to speech facility to hear the words predicted before selection
• Screen magnification
• Can listen back repeatedly to the sentence being composed
• Examples of word useage (for homophones)

Who could benefit

• People who can spell the first 2-3 letters of a word

Brief description

• Free software which adds text to speech (in Microsoft Word only)
• It speaks aloud what you are typing

Who could benefit

• People starting to write in sentences but with some spelling and reading difficulties

Brief description

• Keyboard familiarisation tasks
• Spelling exercises
• 80 activities included or create your own
• Results are recorded
• Use standard keyboard or onscreen keyboard
• Prompts provided
• Can be used by lots of different users, each with their own exercise set

Who could benefit

• People needing to practise:
• Keyboard skills
• Spelling skills

Brief description

• Speech recognition program
• As the user speaks into the microphone, the speech is automatically turned into text
• Can read back &/or listen back to what has been typed

Who could benefit

• Someone with good speech & listening skills but compromised spelling &/or reading skills

Comments

• Need to train the program to recognise your speech
• Noise reducing microphones work best
• Requires good cognitive skills to remember commands & adapt speaking rate