iPad

Brief description

• Available as an app and/or software
• Word prediction (uses grammar smart word prediction & handles phonetic spelling, letter omissions & reversals)
• List of up to 9 word predictions
• Can customise the dictionary to improve prediction
• Text to speech facility to hear the words predicted before selection
• Can listen back repeatedly to the sentence being composed
• Customiseable, topic based on-screen word lists  to aid writing
• Use in social media, email, word processing documents

Who could benefit

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

Brief description

• Word prediction, speech recognition & screen reader
• The program predicts to aid spelling, gives examples of word useage, reads aloud text on the screen (what you’re typing or what you’re reading).
• Can also use speech recognition to ‘type’ in words.
• Can customise the dictionary to improve prediction
• Screen reader, prediction & speech recognition works within all programs/web pages (e.g. can use within email, social networking sites & web searches)

Who could benefit:

• People who can spell the first 2-3 letters of a word before getting stuck
• People who can spell words but sometimes find it easier to say a word

Comments

• All parts of the program work on PC. Mac users only have access to the word prediction & screen reading parts of the program, not the speech recognition part
• Switch accessible only if using Wivick connection cable
   

Brief description

• 85 symbol supported spoken phrases relating to daily, adult activities

Comments/N.B

• Designed for general use in conversations
• No personal or specific vocabulary
• Could replace a generic, basic communication book/chart
   

Brief description

• 66 generic, symbol supported  spoken phrases appropriate for someone with aphasia

Comments/N.B

• Designed for general use when out & about
• No personal or specific vocabulary
• Could replace a generic, basic communication book/chart
   

Type of exercises & brief description             

• AAC app
• 50 symbol supported spoken phrases in the categories:
•     Stroke
•     Conversation
•     Phone
•     Emergency
•     Meals
•     Restaurants
•     Health
•     Pain scale

Comments/N.B

• Designed to be a quick & easy to use conversation aid
• Some Americanisms in the restaurant and food choices
   

Type of exercises & brief description             

• Practising conversations
• e.g.
•     turn-taking
•     listening to conversation partner
•     staying on topic
•     communication aid use
• The ipad starts a topic of conversation and you can practise your responses by replying, commenting, asking questions.

Error handling: None

Prompts/cues:

• Written phrases or pictures
• Spoken words or phrases
• The ipad prompts when it is your turn to respond

Comments/N.B

• Can customise conversation topics and content
• Would need someone to customise the topics and vocabulary to be most useful for someone with aphasia

Type of exercises:

• Written word to picture matching for verbs

Developed with SLT: Yes

Theory based: No, based on clinician experience

Record own speaking attempts: N/A

Correction of own speaking attempts: N/A

Customisation/personalisation: No

Error handling: None

Prompts/cues given: None

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
• Remote access to results is possible as long as the SLT has the user’s login & password.

N.B:
    No visual rewards for correct answers
    Also works on Kindle fire and Nook tablet

Type of exercises & brief description    

• Auditory memory and basic sequencing with adjectives.
• Can also be used for reading comprehension of adjectives and position.
• A verbal and/or written description is given (e.g. the red one is bigger than the green one), user must select the corresponding picture from a choice of 12.
• 60 items in total

Error handling: None

Prompts/cues: None

Comments/N.B

• American accent

Type of exercises & brief description             

• Spoken word finding of 418 common nouns (animals, body parts, clothing etc) and unlimited personalised items
• 4 modes: practise, test, picture-word naming & eliciting of adjectives to describe the noun
• 10-100 items can be selected per exercise
• In practise mode, the items are presented and a variety of cues are offered to aid spoken naming. In the other 3 modes no cues are presented
• In description mode, the user is encouraged to use a variety of adjectives to describe the noun depicted to aid them retrieve the spoken word
• If using independently, the user must monitor themselves whether they have named the item correctly or not
• A tutorial is provided to demonstrate how the app can be used

Error handling: None

Prompts/cues: In practise exercises, semantic, first letter, written word &  phonemic cues to choose from

Record results: Results are shown after the session with % of items named correctly with and without cues. It also highlights the cues used. Results can be emailed to a designated address.

Comments/N.B

• There is only one version for UK, US, Aus and there are a few American words (e.g. zipper, fries, cookies)
• The results recorded are reliant on the user self monitoring and knowing whether they named the item correctly or not. There is no facility for recording speech attempts and the app itself does not determine level of accuracy. This app would therefore not be appropriate for independent use by someone with poor self monitoring
• FREE TRIAL available through the languagetherappy Lite app

Supplier: Tactus
 

Type of exercises & brief description             

• Practise of lip and mouth movements (e.g. lips together, mouth open etc)
• Videos of movements and voice over describing how to execute movements
• Can allocate only certain movements to be practised
• 54 movements to practise

Error handling: None

Prompts/cues: None

Comments/N.B

• Limited program, only illustrating lip and mouth movements  but it is free and could be useful as a preliminary to dyspraxia or dysphagia therapy