Guest guest Posted August 18, 2004 Report Share Posted August 18, 2004 >Hello to all with speech problems, > >You do not have to be isolated from friends, family and business >communication because you cannot speak! No aid is as easy as the days >we could talk and sing, but with patience you can function without >the exhaustion of trying to be understood by others. There are two >things I use to communicate, and anyone has access to these aids. > >1. I have a voiced computer. Go to www.synapsePLS.org then click >Internet Resources and scroll down to speech devices. I have an >Enkidu device. Enkidu has now been purchased by Dynavox, but you can >reach Enkidu through the site listed. Some folks have a LightWriter. >A voiced computer is durable medical goods, which is covered by >insurance. Your neurologist, primary care, or an assistive device >specialist at a rehab will write a detailed letter to your insurance >company explaining your need. (I live outside Boston, and my request >was handled by Spaulding Rehab Hospital.) I was advised to apply >before my need was desperate, as it takes awhle to get one. I've had >it for a year now, and I'd be lost without it. But don't get your hopes up too high. I have tried several many speech synthesis devices, and with most of them you have to spell out the word before it is dealt with. Even with various types of " word prediction " (where the software tries to guess what you are going to say -- faster processors and memory can increase capabilities, but I've found nothing that would let me participate in a conversation like I used to) it is still painfully slow for me, >2. I learned sign language, and so has Jim, my husband, as well as my >adult kids and their kids. Go to >http://where.com/scott.net/asl/abc.html and print out the alphabet, >hand out copies to your loved ones. Often times Jim can understand >over half of what I say and if I hand spell a word or two he gets it. >It's actually fun for kids, as they can " talk " to each other across a >room! Anyone coming to TeamWalk and the Conference, get busy and >learn it, and we can " talk " . In my experience it only works if who you are " talking " to invests some time in learning themselves. Much of the American Sign Language means little to people who know nothing about it. Finger spelling is essentially worthless unless the person you are trying to communicate with not only knows something about it, but is aware of what you are doing to boot. >I'll tell you more about how I manage if you are interested. The key >is not to shut down. Technology exists for us to still be able to >interact with others. You will find that alot is demanded of the >listener, and some aren't patient, but. . . that is their handicap, >not yours! > >Thurza I realize that, but aside from fixing blame there is trying to function in a world where most expect you to communicate in a way you no longer can. Don't get me wrong, the above can be great, but for general communication with chance encounters (sales clerks, parking attendants, delivery people, etc.) I find simple gestures to be the most effective. I use techniques like the above when I have someone along who can help " translate, " but when I'm on my own (which is most times), even though it may be *their* fault, I'm the one who has to deal with it. Sorry to be such a wet blanket, but that's just the way things work in my little corner of the world. __ Galen Hekhuis NpD, JFR, GWA ghekhuis@... Illiterate? Write for FREE help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 18, 2004 Report Share Posted August 18, 2004 Since my Mother passed away in January all of her lifelong quotes keep coming back....not that she was the only to ever say it but.... " The Lord helps those who help themselves " was one of her biggies....sounds like it fits perfectly here in using a speech augmentation device. In Fremont where we live we have the School for the Blind and School for the Deaf which (I think) is the only one in northern California so it's a very large campus. I'm used to seeing people of all ages signing but of course it's big here and the junior college has sign languages classes. I have said before how much I miss singing and I truly do because it was a big part of my life. Last Sunday in church I was " down " because I wanted so badly to join in and then I glanced over to my right and here was this woman signing and " singing " to her heart's content. Can't say that my eyes stayed dry. Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much. Helen Keller (1880-1968) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 18, 2004 Report Share Posted August 18, 2004 Thurza, As I wrote to you in February, I lost my voice completely after my stroke. It didn't come back to the poor speech it was in prior to the stroke. I have been working with a speech therapist since February to get a speech augmentation device and yesterday I was informed that my secondary insurance had approved it after they had initially rejected the claim. I should getting a Enkidu Tablet XL Impact D and a wheelchair mount for it in 2 to 3 weeks. WHOPPEE!!! speech/bulbar help > > Hello to all with speech problems, > > You do not have to be isolated from friends, family and business > communication because you cannot speak! No aid is as easy as the days > we could talk and sing, but with patience you can function without > the exhaustion of trying to be understood by others. There are two > things I use to communicate, and anyone has access to these aids. > > 1. I have a voiced computer. Go to www.synapsePLS.org then click > Internet Resources and scroll down to speech devices. I have an > Enkidu device. Enkidu has now been purchased by Dynavox, but you can > reach Enkidu through the site listed. Some folks have a LightWriter. > A voiced computer is durable medical goods, which is covered by > insurance. Your neurologist, primary care, or an assistive device > specialist at a rehab will write a detailed letter to your insurance > company explaining your need. (I live outside Boston, and my request > was handled by Spaulding Rehab Hospital.) I was advised to apply > before my need was desperate, as it takes awhle to get one. I've had > it for a year now, and I'd be lost without it. > > 2. I learned sign language, and so has Jim, my husband, as well as my > adult kids and their kids. Go to > http://where.com/scott.net/asl/abc.html and print out the alphabet, > hand out copies to your loved ones. Often times Jim can understand > over half of what I say and if I hand spell a word or two he gets it. > It's actually fun for kids, as they can " talk " to each other across a > room! Anyone coming to TeamWalk and the Conference, get busy and > learn it, and we can " talk " . > > I'll tell you more about how I manage if you are interested. The key > is not to shut down. Technology exists for us to still be able to > interact with others. You will find that alot is demanded of the > listener, and some aren't patient, but. . . that is their handicap, > not yours! > > Thurza > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 18, 2004 Report Share Posted August 18, 2004 : I once went to a dinner theater and several deaf people were at a nearby table. An interpreter signed the whole play, and it was the most extraordinary thing I'd ever seen. I just watched her, not the play, because she was so expressive. So go on and sing with your hands...it's wonderful. Edith > Since my Mother passed away in January all of her lifelong quotes keep > coming back....not that she was the only to ever say it but.... " The Lord helps > those who help themselves " > was one of her biggies....sounds like it fits perfectly here in using a > speech augmentation device. In Fremont where we live we have the School for the > Blind and School for the Deaf which (I think) is the only one in northern > California so it's a very large campus. I'm used to seeing people of all ages > signing but of course it's big here and the junior college has sign languages > classes. I have said before how much I miss singing and I truly do because > it was a big part of my life. Last Sunday in church I was " down " because I > wanted so badly to join in and then I glanced over to my right and here was > this woman signing and " singing " to her heart's content. Can't say that my eyes > stayed dry. > > > > Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much. > Helen Keller (1880-1968) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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