Aside from Autism Spectrum Disorder, as we have discovered, many other conditions cause impairments in communication. In addition to looking into how those with autism communicate, I decided to look into the communication solutions for other conditions.
DEAFNESS
Source: Action on Hearing Loss
BLINDNESS
Source: NHS Choices - Blindness and Vision Loss
VOICE PROBLEMS (Cleft Lip or Palate)
Source: Cleft Palate Foundation - Speech Development
STROKE
Source: Communication Problems After Stroke
DEAFNESS
Source: Action on Hearing Loss
- British Sign Language (BSL)
- Lipreading
- Speech-to-Text Reporters (STTR) help people who are deaf to access audio information via a laptop or a projector screen. Reporters type word for word what is being said with information appearing in real time for the person who is deaf.
- The Next Generation Text (NGT) service helps people with hearing loss and/or a speech impairment to access the telephone system. A relay assistant acts as an intermediary to convert speech to text and vice versa for the two people in conversation. You can continue to access the service using a textphone, however NGT now enables access to the telephone system through a range of other ways including smartphones, tablets, laptops and PCs with an internet connection.
- Video Interpreting - Video interpreters offer a remote sign language interpreting service via a videophone.
- Fingerspelling - You can use our popular animated fingerspelling tool to practice spelling words and phrases with your hands.
- Notetakers accompany people to talks or meetings and provide a set of notes for people who are unable to take their own because they may be lipreading or watching a sign language interpreter.
- Deafblind interpreters allow people who are both deaf and blind, commonly known as dual-sensory loss to communicate with others.
BLINDNESS
Source: NHS Choices - Blindness and Vision Loss
- Big-button keyboards, screen display software and text readers are available from the RNIB.
- You can also install screen-reading software on your computer that will read out emails, documents and text on the internet.
- Braille
VOICE PROBLEMS (Cleft Lip or Palate)
Source: Cleft Palate Foundation - Speech Development
- Speech-language pathologist
STROKE
Source: Communication Problems After Stroke
- Speech and Language Therapy
- Communication Cards and Passports -
A communication card is a card that you can use to explain to people that you have problems with speaking. It’s usually small, so that you can carry it with you in your wallet or purse. A communication card can help you explain to people (like shop assistants and waiters, for example).
A communication passport is a document that tells people important information about yourself – everything from the kind of communication problems you have and the medication you’re taking, to your likes and dislikes and where you grew up. - Communication charts can be useful, especially in hospital, when your communication problems are likely to be worse.
- An e-tran frame is a special chart for people who are not able to move their hands to point. Instead, you can use your eyes to indicate a letter, word or symbol that is attached to a large frame, which is held in front of you by a trained carer.
- Symbol sets are sets of picture symbols that you can use to put messages together. There are many sets available, covering a range of different topics
- Voice output communication aids (VOCAs) are devices that can help you if you have problems speaking clearly. They use a computer-generated voice to play a message aloud. Some work by pressing a button to play a pre-recorded message, like “How are you?”, whereas others have a keyboard so you can type your own message for the VOCA to read aloud.