Lightwriter and other AAC devices

[theDudesmummy]

Anyone had any experience? I would appreciate any thoughts or stories...

[saintlyjimjams]

How are typing skills already?

Lots of cheaper alternatives to try (letterboards, iPad apps, neo??? Is that what they're called).

DS1 can't type (we're working in it) but does brilliantly with a vantage lite using LAMP (with unity). It has been life changing for him - he didn't get on with other AAC devices so worth paying the money if the device is right for your child (thinking about the cost of the light writer). Can you trial one - we trialled the vantage for 3 weeks.

[theDudesmummy]

He is just learning to type single words atm; letterboard, laptop, netbook all being used so far, and it's coming on well (he's only 4 but already it's obvious he can type far better than he can vocalise or sign).

I was not thinking of paying for a Lightwriter (not now anyway!) but we are probably going to be given one to try (from specialist NHS team), so just wondering what experiences other people have had.

[theDudesmummy]

PS I had not heard of the Vantage, will look into that. Thanks for the info. What is the difference between that and the Lightwriter? (I knew about none of these until yesterday when it was discussed at an assessment by the specialist team, which is why I have put up the question!)

[saintlyjimjams]

Oh definitely give it a go then - I think it's hard to guess how it will go from other people's experiences as our kids are sll so individual & have different preferences. A vantage produces words using a combination of button pushes - but if typing is going well that's probably the way to go. A vantage has thousands of words in it, but typing is even more flexible with unlimited words :)

[theDudesmummy]

Thanks for that! We are still waiting to see what will be offered, will feedback when we get whatever we are getting!

[moondog]

The A/AC company getting my top vote at present (I deal with many) is Therapy Box.
The key issue is whether your child needs a symbol based system, text based system or a mixture of both.
Check out Proloquo2go, Chatable and Predictable (as well as Scene & Heard0.

Their reps hoof it up and down the country week in, week out, giving free demos and will also come into schools to do the same. There is no hard sell or pressure. Tonnes of useful videos demoing their products on their site too.

Highly recommended.

[saintlyjimjams]

I would also say that not all symbol based systems are the same. Ds1 refused to use categorical systems (which a whole load -most? - of them are). That ruled out things like proloquo2go -we tried oh we tried. LAMP was definitely the way to go with him - didn't have to be the vantage or via liberator but he needed something that would work with LAMP.

However if your child can use text/typing unsupported then I would choose that just because it offers unlimited vocab.

[saintlyjimjams]

This is a useful sort of summary on the different symbol based apps -and she's highlighting the difference between those which take into account motor planning & those which don't - this turned out to be the key to something working or not in our case. I agree with what she's written & similar to my experiences www.wantapeanut.com/2013/04/choosing-aac-device-part-2.html?m=1.
There's no LAMP for life in the UK but there's unity core (or something like that) which is similar.

A keyboard takes into account motor planning anyway (letters are always in the same place).

[saintlyjimjams]

www.wantapeanut.com/2013/04/choosing-aac-device-part-2.html?m=1

[hazeyjane]

Will keep an eye on thread. Too early for ds now, but he has latched on so brilliantly even to the really basic, free grid player (he asked for juice!) that we will be seeing AAC Salt soon to discuss options. I don't know anything about the writing/typing AAC devices.

[SingySongy]

If a lightwriter is "right", then also have a look at the Allora by Techcess

It does pretty much the same thing (and more!), and also has a really wizzy detachable display thing...

And make sure you think about a way for it to be truly portable - ie, will your son carry it in a bag, be able to keep it with him all the time? An AAC system is only useful if you have it with you at pertinent moments! Particularly in the early stages.

Very exciting! - and great that you're going to be set up with a trial!

[theDudesmummy]

Thanks! All looks very interesting. DS is probably, from what we can tell so far, going to be able to use typing without the need for symbols (although it is early days, but his ABA consultant is very keen to try the typing route right now).

[saintlyjimjams]

Do let us know how you get on!

[Mrsorganmorgan]

Is a Lightwriter any good for an adult. I have husband who is non verbal, since he had a stroke 7 years ago. I can't understand anything he says - what comes out of his mouth is total rubbish!

[Sindonym]

A lightwriter may be suitable if the person can still spell/write and use language. It’s hard to say without an assessment. I’m sorry to hear about your husband’s stroke. Do you know what type of aphasia he has? If fluent aphasia (so speaks clearly but doesn’t always make sense) a lightwriter may not be the best option, but if he is hard to understand because he cannot produce speech sounds very well it might be suitable - although it would depend on things like his movement and language difficulties.

Could you ask for a referral to speech therapy (or pay to see a private therapist experienced with stroke). I’d say it’s essential to get an assessment done as that will indicate how best to support your husband’s communication.

[theDudesmummy]

HI there, how interesting that this very very old and forgotten thread of mine (it seems to have come from a different life!) has resurfaced. I do have an update from the situation as it was 8 years ago! Here it is, if anyone is interested:

My DS remained non-speaking (I prefer that term these days to "non-verbal", as he is very verbal, just not with speech) and in the end we did not go with the Lightwriter, as he learned to type, first on a laptop, then on a tablet, then a mini-tablet and finally on a phone. He is now 13 and just wears a phone on a lanyard around his neck, with text-to-speech software and a voice synthetiser on it, so he can "talk" (you can hear the voice, and he can also show you what he has typed, which can be handy, especially as new people sometimes don't clock on immediately that he is talking to them). It is very non-stigmatising as everyone has a phone, so looks totally "normal" and just like any other kid who is constantly glued to their smartphone! It is also cheap and easy to replace, as opposed to specialist devices, and so no need for insurance or excessive worry about it breaking (he's a teenager, it does get broken!). He "talks" constantly and has a good level of language for his age. (He is now responsible enough to take charge of making sure it is charged and that he always has a spare when he goes out).

The thread was however resurrected by someone asking about an adult who had a stroke, and that would be a very different situation, especially if there are motor control issues which could affect typing ability. I have to say that I have found over the years that many SLTs know little about the specialised field of AAC, and it is vitally important to do your own research and not wait for or rely on advice. The tech has moved on a lot since the days we were looking into a Lightwriter and the software available on tablets, laptops and phones is much more sophisticated and diverse now, at a fraction of the price. Having said that, of course many people do need specialised devices (including for example eye gaze tech, or spelling tech), I would really recommend getting onto AAC groups on Facebook and elsewhere if you can, to see what different people are using. (I belong to an AAC Users in Ireland group on FB, for example and they have a lot of interesting information. There are many more people using AAC than you realise, especially in the States, and it is worth getting in touch with people, there is now such a variety of devices and apps out there).

[Mrsorganmorgan]

My husband can't speak at all. The total rubbish that comes out of his mouth is impossible to understand. I don't understand 99% of what he says.

[Mrsorganmorgan]

I will ask for a referrl to a speech therapist. I have no idea whether or not, he can spell. It is so hard.