Voice output communication
What is a voice output communication aid (VOCA)?
Having the ability to speak is something we all take for granted. Speech is such a universal and direct method of communication that those without it are frequently excluded from many activities in their day-to-day lives.
In some circumstances, communicating via picture- and symbol-based boards or charts can help. However, as technology progresses, communication devices with speech output are increasingly making a big impact on people’s lives who previously found communicating either difficult or impossible.
A Voice Output Communication Aid (VOCA) is an electrical communication device which assists people who have a communication impairment to express their needs, exchange information, ask questions and participate in conversations. In other words, VOCAs aid individuals who are unable to use natural speech to meet their communication needs.
Laptop computers, tablet PCs and handheld devices, such as modified Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) may be used in a similar way to a VOCA, using a speech synthesizer and/or digital speech and special communication software to speak out messages. The same computer can be used for other computer tasks.
Choosing the correct communication aid
As there is a wide range of communication aids available, ensuring an individual receives the correct communication aid will require an assessment involving an interdisciplinary team of people, including the individual, their family, teacher, carer and therapists. This will determine how the communication aid will be accessed, how the aid will be positioned correctly (many people who have a communication difficulty can also have a disability), whether it will contain text or symbols or a mixture of both.
An assessment will also identify if the individual requires a dynamic (information changes) or static display and to what extent the communication aid will meet the long term goals of the individual. Training and support are also crucial considerations for a communication aid to be successful.
Useful links
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DynaVox Systems provides a comprehensive range of augmentative communication devices such as the Dynamo and Mighty/ Mini MO, which features digitised speech, touch screen and dynamic display technology and the text to speech DynaWrite which provides an opportunity for literate users to communicate speedily through keying in what they want to say.
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As well as providing a large selection of communication devices the Liberator website features an excellent range of resources to support people with a communication impairment. For example, the 'downloads section' features a useful 'Scanning with PowerPoint' tutorial in PDF format, which uses PowerPoint as a simple communication device. There are also some engaging free switch accessible games, for example, Battle of the Gods and Reign of the Flowerpots, which are worth trying out. Additionally, the Communication Aids section offers an extensive range of communication devices and accessories, including mounting units, the Talking Photo Album, AbleNet VOCAs, dynamic displays and PC based communication aids.
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Prentke Romich International offers an extensive selection of VOCAs to meet a range of communication difficulties. The 'Products' link offers an accessible lay to enable a quick overview of each of their products and includes the Pathfinder, a popular VOCA offering extensive vocabulary which can be accessed via both a keyboard and dynamic touch-screen colour display. At the foot of the 'Products' page Prentke Romich International offer a 2 week loan scheme or alternatively a 6 week rental on various products. The website also offers a range of VOCA accessories, mounts and useful downloads, for example the WIVIK on-screen keyboard and Springboard a digital speech program.
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Toby Churchill is probably most famous for the portable Lightwriter communication aid. Lightwriters are small portable text-to-speech communication aids specially designed to meet the particular needs of people with speech disabilities. Lightwriters are designed to accommodate the wide range of other disabilities which may accompany loss of speech, such as poor motor control, tremor, muscle weakness, slow reactions, cognitive limitations and impaired vision. The 'Meet Some Lightwriter Users' link is a particularly informative section and provides a valuable insight into how communication aids can impact and benefit peoples lives.
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Formerly Cambridge Adaptive Communication and Gewa (UK) Ltd, the two companies amalgamated to form Possum Controls Ltd. The 'Communication' section provides an informative overview of alternative and augmentative technologies and some useful terms which clearly explain frequently asked questions regarding voice output technologies. The site also offers a range of voice output devices including the 'Say-it! SAM' a symbol and text based PDA portable communicator. Possum Controls Ltd also supply the The Cameleon, a voice output communication aid that runs Windows and is designed primarily for use by people with communication impairments who require a combination of communication, computer access, literacy and environmental control.
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Children with disabilities who cannot speak may require 'high tech' augmentative communication aid systems. CALLtalk was created by Sally Millar of the CALL Centre and Janet Larcher, Independent Consultant and co-author of the Ingfield Dynamic Vocabularies. It is designed particularly for use by Primary age children with severe communication difficulties but relatively good cognitive levels, who are expected to learn to construct sentences and, ultimately read and write (though they may not quite be there yet), in mainstream schools.
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Access interventions page of the Don Johnston special needs web site.
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The Don Johnston Special Needs website.
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The website of Sunrise Medical one of the world's largest manufacturers of homecare and extended care products.