Assistive Technology to Enhance Communication ch. 4

Often times, the inability to speak is equated to the inability to think

Assistive Technology Providing a voice
augmentative communication system = alternative to speech for people who cannot talk
unaided, always available in any environment: sign language
aided, involving the used of something external: alphabet board
Necessary: 1. Training 2. Support 3. Practice
Assistive Technology for hearing impairment
smoke detector indicator, shaking alarm clocks, baby cry signaler, door beacon, strobe door chime, super phone ringer (see pg. 100)
cochlear implant
hearing aid
for lecture:
ALDs (assistive listening devices) - minimize background noise, reduces effects of bad acoustics, used in conjunction with hearing aids. types:
FM system: amplifies teacher voice, transmitter, student wears receiver and coupling device (headphones), teacher wears mic
Infrared system: need direct line of sight between transmitter and receiver, but better audio quality
Induction Loop system: electromagnetic waves for transmission, wire looped around perimeter, sounds picked up by mic, amplified, and transmitted to hearing aid
Soundfield Amplification System: broadcasts teachers voice through loudspeakers mounted on walls
internet resources
Autism and Communication
www.autismnetwork.org/modules/comm/aac/index.html
Perspectives of Augmentative Communication Users
www.anthonyarnold.net
www.aacinstitute.org/Resources.Prentkelecture/1997/GusEstrella.html
www.aacinstitute.org/Resources.Prentkelecture/2004RickCreech.html
Cochlear Implants
www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/coch.htm
Hearing Assistive Technology
www.soundbytes.com/Visual_Altering_Systems.html
Assistive Learning Devices
www.comtek.com/assistive_Listening.html
www.williamsound.com




Dell, A.G., Newton, D.A., & Petroff, J.G. (2008). Assistive technology in the classroom. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Merril Prentice Hall.