The App Factor, Season 2: “Communication Apps Put to Use!”

By

Darcy Regan, M.A., CCC-SLP Wyoming Assistive Technology Resources (WATR)

Apps Rating Sheet Speech Settings Representations Display Feedback Rate Enhancement Access

Motor

Competencies Cost

Predictable

Synthesized speech

after word, phrase,

or upon selection;

Customizable Pitch

Text

Photos

ClipArt

Keyboard

High Frequency

Layout;

Dynamic Display

Auditory, Zoom upon

selection, Visual contrasts

Highlights selection when

scanning

Word and Phrase

prediction; Saved

phrases, Adjustable rate

of speech; Phrase

Categories, Dictionary

Direct

Single

Switch

Scanning

Point

Swipe

Switch

Adaptable

$159

TouchChat HD

Seven synthesized

voices, Male and

Female, and Child

options,

US and UK accents

Symbol Stix

Import own images

Grid layout with

navigation

Advanced word

prediction,

Pre-Programmed

7,000 Vocabulary items

Pre- Programmed

buttons of words and

phrases

Direct Point $149

Proloquo2go

Male

Female

Child

Synthesized voice,

US and UK accents

Symbol Stix

Import own images

Grid

Layout with

navigation links;

onscreen keyboard

Word prediction

keyboard;

Auditory feedback

upon message access;

Visual symbol

Advanced word

prediction;

pre-programmed 7,000

vocabulary items

Direct

Switch?

Point

Swipe

$189

Go Talk Now

Digitized and

Synthesized; 20

languages

Extra voices 99

Imagine Symbol set,

photo library, import

own images from

camera, video, or

Internet

In-app purchase of

SymbolStix or Widgit

Symbols

Static, Dynamic,

recorded or text-t0-

speech messages

play, Visual Scenes,

Social Stories

Auditory feedback upon

message access, music,

video, Auditory cues for

row/column scanning

Core Vocabulary location,

pre-programmed text-to-

speech, video, photo,

Internet

Direct

Step, Auto, or

Group

Scanning

Point

Switch Scan

$79

Verbally

Synthesized speech

after word, phrase,

or upon selection;

customizable pitch

Text Keyboard; Portrait or

landscape view

Auditory; Visual;

Highlights selected keys

Word prediction; Stored

words and phrases;

Adjustable speech rate;

conversations stored for

phrase recall

Direct

Bluetooth

Point: Swipe Free to

$100

Scene & Heard

Digitized and

Synthesized

10,000 Widgit Symbols Grid

Flip Book

Visual Scenes,

with built-in symbol

vocabulary

photos

videos

Auditory,

video

Visual Scenes

Link one Scene to

another

Direct

One or Two

Switch

Bluetooth

Point

Switch Scan

Free to

$50

*http://www.uwyo.edu/wind/watr *Webinars *Presentation Documents

The Final Three

• Proloquo2Go

• TouchChat HD

• Go Talk NOW

Evidence Based Practice

• Lack of research supporting the use of apps

• Lack of company support-warranty

Research on iPad Use

• Taking the Pulse out of Augmentative and Alternative Communication- white paper

• http://www.assistiveware.com/taking-pulse-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-ios

• Other helpful articles:

• http://www.asha.org/Publications/leader/2011/111011/Apps--An-Emerging-Tool-for-SLPs/

• http://div12perspectives.asha.org/content/21/2/60.abstract

• http://blog.palsoftwaredesigns.com/index.php?/archives/12-A-Slew-of-iPad-AAC-Articles.html

Which apps to use with who?

• Beginning Communicator

– Can’t discriminate too many pictures/icons at one time

– May include those with visual impairments

– Pages may/may not be organized by category

– Communication Partner likely will have to navigate to choice pages

(Willcoxon,& Buell, 2012)

Paged based Communicator

• Understands words/concepts that are represented by pictures/vocabulary that can be fit into categories

• They can manage at least two levels

• Use pre-programmed messages that initiate conversation & are used to pick final items from the category (e.g. “I want to eat …breakfast items…..french toast

Basic Communication Core Vocabulary

Multichat

Linked System Communicator

• Core page content

• Can start a message with subject & complete it with a verb and final choice from a chosen category (e.g. “ I go park.” “I want pizza.”)

• Use combination of pictures and text

• Greeting, opinions, comments

• May not have significant literacy skills

Core Vocabulary Word Power 42

Word Power 80

Combination Communicator

• Can use text but also needs picture symbols for words & concepts can’t spell

• Word Prediction is a must!

• May or may not need device to call on phone or electronically control the environment

Core Vocabulary Word Power 42 Word Power 80

Photo Journalist Communicator

• Apps that talk about photographs

• Socialization & Shared Content

42 location and up Custom page sets

Touch Chat HD

• Appeal to those with less than accurate fine motor skills

• Different levels of vocabulary templates

• Combines Visual Scenes with options to record messages from home and vice versa

• WordPower templates developed by an SLP

• Provides access to Core Vocabulary

Windows Editor

Go Talk NOW

• Multimedia App

• Visual Scene

Proloquo2Go

• Conversational Starters

• Boardmaker Symbols

• Basic Communication

• Core Vocabulary

• Different Size Grids

Free Share Service

• Touch Chat HD

• Go Talk NOW

Accessibility iOS6

• Guided Access

– Disable Home Button

– Disable Areas on the Screen

http://appadvice.com/appnn/2012/09/new-feature-in-ios-6-how-to-use-guided-access

Helpful Hints

• Give the individual time to explore the app

• It’s not about the app, it’s about communication!

– www.communicationmatrix.org

Feature Matching

• Decision-Making Process

Boston Children's’ Hospital

http://www.childrenshospital.org/clinicalservices/Site2016/mainpageS2016P19.html

AAC Tech Connect

http://www.aactechconnect.com/?page_id=555

iPad Loans

• Wyoming Assistive Technology Resources

• https://www.wy.at4all.com/

Which app do you like the best?

A. TouchChat HD

B. Proloquo2Go

C. Go Talk NOW

References AAC TechConnect. AAC Apps Assistant. http://www.aactechconnect.com/?page_id=555 Alliano, A., Herriger, K., Koutsoftas, K., Bartolotta, T. (2012, June). “A review of 21 of iPad applications for augmentative and alternative communication purposes.” Perspectives on Augmentative and Alternative Communication 2, 60-71. App Advice : http://appadvice.com/appnn/2012/09/new-feature-in-ios-6-how-to-use-guided-access AssistiveWare. (2012). Proloquo2go [Mobile application software]. Retrieved from http://itunes.apple.com/ Attainment Company. (2012). Go Talk NOW App [Mobile application software]. Retrieved from http://itunes.apple.com/ Boston Childrens’ Hospital. (2012). Clinical Considerations in Feature Matching: When your thorough assessment of all options and strategies leads you to consider an iDevice platform. http://www.childrenshospital.org/clinicalservices/Site2016/mainpageS2016P19.html Gosnell, J., Costello, J., & Shane, H. (2011, September). Using a clinical approach to answer “what communication Apps should we use?”. Perspectives on Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 20, 87–96. Mobile Devices & Communication Apps: An AAC-RERC White Paper. 2011. http://aac-rerc.psu.edu/index.php/pages/show/id/46 Romski, M. A., & Sevcik, R. A. (1996). Breaking the Speech Barrier: Language Development through Augmented Means. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishing. Schlosser, R.W., & Raghavendra, P. (2004). Evidence-based practice in augmentative and alternative communication. Augmentative and alternative communication, 20(1), 1-21. Schweigert, P. “ It Takes Two: Partners Working With Individuals Who Have Sensory and Multiple Disabilities.” Presented on-line at the Annual Conference of the ASHA Special Interest Group on AAC: Partner Instruction in AAC: Strategies for Building Circles of Support. June 2012. Silver Kite (2012). TouchChat [Mobile application software]. Retrieved from http://itunes.apple.com Willcoxon, M., & Buell, L. Evaluating the iPad as a communication device: a journey not for the faint of hearted. Closing the Gap: Minneapolis, MN, October 2012.