Communication devices were made for people with special needs. They help people with special needs communicate and they help them to talk when they can’t talk by themselves. It is a device that helps people communicate. For example, one device is a picture card. The person will point to the picture and somebody will know what they want. Another device is a tablet or an iPad. People with special needs can speak through an iPad or a tablet. When they press the button, it will speak out loud what they want to say. Communication devices are very important for people who cannot speak by themselves.
People who use communication devices often have trouble speaking or making sounds, or they may not be able to speak at all.
They may also have problems understanding what other people say to them because of a hearing impairment or cognitive disability. In this case, it will be helpful for them if the communication device can provide visual cues as well as auditory ones so that they can see what the speaker is saying in addition to hearing it.
Some people use speech-generating devices (SGDs), which are tools that produce spoken words through artificial means such as a computerized voice or an app on an iPad®/iPhone®/iPod touch® device. These tools are typically controlled by pressing buttons with your hand or finger, although there are some that work by using eye-tracking technology (this means you look at something on screen and it activates). Communication aids can also include picture boards and objects that represent abstract concepts like feelings or emotions.”
Communication Devices are a special needs product that can be used to help people with disabilities and special needs to express themselves better. Communication devices are also known as communication boards, symbol boards, communication displays or voice output devices.
Communication devices are generally used by people who have trouble speaking because of a disability, such as a stroke or autism. They can be as simple as a homemade picture board or as sophisticated as computer software with synthesized speech.
There are many different devices that can help people with special needs communicate. Some of these devices may include handheld devices that look like smartphones, with buttons that have letters or words on them. These letters or words are spoken aloud when pressed, making it easier for those with hearing impairment to understand the person who is speaking.
Other devices for communication include speech-generating devices (SGDs), which help those who have difficulty speaking clearly to communicate their thoughts and feelings in a more understandable manner.
- Text-To-Speech Devices
Portable text-to-speech devices are lightweight and durable for portability, and allow non-verbal individuals to communicate. They can be used by anyone who has difficulty speaking, including individuals with ALS, autism, cerebral palsy, stroke, traumatic brain injury and other conditions.
- Eye/Head tracking
Eye/head tracking can be used to help people type text by looking at letters on a screen or keypad. It is useful for those with limited head and body movement.
- Speech Generating Devices (SGDs)
Speech generating devices (SGDs) produce speech through a computerized voice output. They are useful for people with speech difficulties such as apraxia.
- Vocal Output Communication Aids (VOCAs)
VOCAs are similar to SGDs but they do not use recording technology; they speak as the user types each letter or word into the device’s keyboard. VOCAs are useful when the user can type but cannot speak clearly or loudly enough to be understood by others.
The most important thing to consider when buying a communication device for someone with special needs is how the user will use it. If the user needs to be able to speak, but cannot produce speech, then an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device is the best choice. This type of device has a synthesized voice that says words as they’re typed or selected.
Communication is a necessary function of life, and it takes many forms. It’s the way we relate to others around us, the way we interact with our environment, and the means through which we express ourselves. In order to have fulfilling social interactions, effective academic experiences and a generally positive quality of life, communication is a requirement for success.
When someone has a communication disorder, it can be extremely difficult for them to engage in their daily activities without support. Speech-language pathologists are often called on to help individuals with communication disorders overcome this obstacle by providing therapy and developing specialized communication devices as needed.
In order to do this effectively, speech-language pathologists must understand how to create and utilize these devices. While there are many different types of assistive technology available, one of the most common is a Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS).