Overview
Many professionals working with pALS (people with ALS) aren’t aware of the benefits of AAC, even though studies show that it can dramatically improve communication skills and overall quality of life. TD is here to support prescribing clinicians, including speech therapists and other medical professionals, who are interested in AAC for their clients with ALS. We offer expertise and resources to guide you every step of the way. Let’s start by looking at each AAC journey stage:
During an initial evaluation, the prescribing clinician will gather detailed information about their client’s communication abilities and needs. This evaluation will be used as a basis for recommending AAC.
During this stage, the prescribing clinician will document their client’s necessity for AAC and determine the right solution to match their needs and goals. This will be used as a basis to write a prescription for an AAC device.
During the funding stage, the prescribing clinician submits the necessary documentation so that their client can secure financial coverage for the AAC device. This will include communicating with funding and insurance sources and assisting with the application process. It may also involve arranging device trials.
Once their client has received the funded device, it may be customized based on their communication goals and preferences. This will happen together with the client and their care circle to ensure they get the most out of their AAC device.
During this last stage, the clinician who helped secure funding for the AAC device often assists their client with ongoing support. They also usually help monitor and adapt the device to keep up with their client’s evolving needs.
Discover AAC in action for people with ALS:
As a speech therapist assessing pALS (people with ALS) for assistive communication, you will first gather detailed information about their abilities and needs. We’ve curated the following free resources to help you succeed during the evaluation stage of the AAC journey:
You may have heard that AAC only works for people who can use their hands. In fact, it’s possible to control a device with just one’s eyes. Perhaps you’ve heard that impaired speech is good enough. Most people without a voice would disagree, and besides, the technology exists to avoid such an outcome. We’ve debunked some common myths about AAC for people with ALS in a printable poster. You can use it to educate others with facts and evidence. Simply download and print this free resource to display in your clinic, school or hospital.
This questionnaire is designed to help speech therapists evaluate when to start using AAC with their pALS clients. It consists of a series of questions to ask their clients as soon as they start noticing difficulty with speech or accessing technology.
Once the evaluation stage is complete, you’ll be ready to start recommending assistive communication to match your clients’ needs and goals. At this stage, it’s possible to help your clients find solutions to express themselves their way – anywhere, anytime with low-tech (print-based) or high-tech AAC. Here are some resources and information to get started with recommending AAC solutions for ALS:
Tobii Dynavox offers the following low-tech resource to support people with ALS:
A printable communication board to use when an AAC device is inconvenient or unavailable.
Tobii Dynavox makes the following purpose-built assistive communication solutions to support people with ALS:
A purpose-built speech generating device controlled with your eyes to communicate and access Windows.
An iPad-based speech generating device controlled with your eyes to communicate and access iPadOS.
A simple text-to-speech app that enables natural conversation using just your eyes or hands.
A full assistive communication solution for pALS includes device mounts for wheelchairs, desks and floors. Tobii Dynavox offers a collection of mounts to ensure your voice is heard wherever you go.
With AAC, people with degenerative diseases such as ALS, can preserve their voice to use later with a communication device should they lose the ability to speak. This can be done with a bank of recorded messages, a custom synthetic voice, or a combination of both. These solutions allow a person to continue sounding like themself, which helps retain a key part of their identity. Known respectively as message banking and voice banking, both processes should be started at the early stage of diagnosis to have ready if needed. And if voice banking isn’t possible, there are ways to customize a pre-existing synthetic voice so that it resonates with the AAC user.
An alternative to voice banking is the use of a pre-made synthetic voice. Many pre-existing synthetic voices come in different languages, types of accent within a language, or the choice of a female or male voice.
Voice banking is an AAC tool that offers a way to create a custom synthetic voice that closely resembles a person’s natural one. It’s also possible to bank the donated voice of a friend or family member.
Message banking is an AAC tool that allows individuals to record and store their most used words and phrases. This helps them express themselves more authentically and quickly.
Now that you have recommended an AAC solution for your client, it’s time to secure funding to help them cover device costs. This will involve navigating a complex application process that takes time and perseverance. We’ve worked hard to help simplify the process as much as possible. This includes guidance from an in-house team of funding specialists and a dedicated e-funding website to help guide you every step of the way:
A dedicated, experienced, in-house funding team that acts as a guide and liaison with hundreds of insurance companies. This helps clinicians and their clients secure funding to help cover device costs.
A website with step-by-step instructions to help clinicians navigate and apply for financial coverage of a communication device. This how-to website covers both the offline and e-funding process.
After securing funding for our eye gaze speech generating devices, we offer everything you need to know about getting set up and using them. We’ve made it easy to get started with a device, and its pre-loaded software TD Talk. We offer a getting started guide, ongoing learning resources and related low-tech solutions to complement TD Talk, including a communication board. If you get stuck, tech support is available every day. And if something goes wrong, there’s a comprehensive warranty.
A purpose-built speech generating device controlled with your eyes to communicate and access Windows.
An iPad-based speech generating device controlled with your eyes to communicate and access iPadOS.
A simple text-to-speech app that enables natural conversation using just your eyes or hands.
Now that you and your clients are on their way with assistive communication, the last stage may very well be the most important one: ensuring ongoing success. You’ve helped your clients come this far, and they will continue to look to you for continued support. We are always here to help guide you with the following resources:
Boost your knowledge of our products, learn implementation strategies, stay up-to-date on best practices and more with live and on-demand learning.
Search our database of frequently asked questions for answers about many of our products and services.
Contact our dedicated support team any day of the week and find links to common topics such as warranties, repairs and funding.
Get industry-leading support through a 5-year warranty, available with all Tobii Dynavox devices.
Don’t forget that you can always reach out to a Tobii Dynavox Solutions Consultant near you for guidance. We’re here to help you and your clients succeed on this AAC journey.
