Communication devices for mute people

foodpoison

foodpoison

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Sean
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I need help.

Recently my Granddad was diagnosed with cancer of the larynx. He had an operation to remove his larynx and stop the cancer spreading.
He was doing fine - obviously he couldn't speak since the larynx is the voicebox - by communicating through pen and paper.

This weekend he had a stroke, and has lost (hopefully temporarily) the use of his writing hand.

Are there any devices on the market (irrelevant of intended use) that allow him to type out and have his words displayed on a screen or even voiced by the computer?

I'm thinking something the size of a netbook, but more in design of a pager - something like a DVD case sized blackberry, that simply types.

Even if it's just a kid's toy, anything to give him a hand getting stuff done.
Any help is much appreciated. Expense is an issue, preferably around £35 ish.
 
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Try this.
http://www.laryngectomy.org.uk

There are devices that can be used to help with talking.

Most probably not relevant for your granddad but I attended a conference once where a "neck breather" was one of the speakers. He took air in through his mouth and forced it back out again to make words.
 
Thanks for that, they'll be sorting him out with one of those devices when he begins speech therapy, but until then we just need a temporary fix, sorry I didn't explain this in the beginning.
 
I've seen things on tv which you hold to your throat and go through the motions of talking and it emits a robot-like voice. No idea where from or how much, but I'm sure people in the medical profession dealing with your grandfather know about them. They've been around for years.
 
MisterE said:
I've seen things on tv which you hold to your throat and go through the motions of talking and it emits a robot-like voice. No idea where from or how much, but I'm sure people in the medical profession dealing with your grandfather know about them. They've been around for years.
Click to expand...

That'll be something like this
 
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I am not if Speak & Spell would be suitable. It's something from the 1980s, way before your time; but you may find some working models on e-bay?
 
Have a look at websites for blind/partially sighted people, see what advice is offered there in terms of voice activated/operating stuff, you might even find some stuff being sold on s/h, that is the biggest area of 'need' in terms of stuff that has to have sound though of course it often works both ways in that instance, but you never know.

FWIW, my late mum had several strokes over several years that also took away use in her writing hand and she did learn to write well enough to understand it with her other hand very quickly. The harder part was actually getting her paralysed right hand to hold the paper still whilst she wrote with left but is was more because she didnt like having to use one hand to move the other than anything else.

Wish your grandad all the best from me mate :thumbs:
 
As a temporary thing, maybe a sheet or 2 of paper with letters and common words on it that he can point to with his "working" hand until a better solution can be found (or he gets better use of his dominant hand). If there are any schools for the deaf in your area, they may be able to point you in the right direction, as may any of the charities in that field.

Wishing your Granddad all the best for a fast and good recovery.

One other thought, has any member here got an old, "retired" laptop or similar that FP's Granddad could borrow for a while?
 
Thanks for the input guys. Really struggling to find something.

The electronic larynx is something the NHS will be providing, but not for a while yet, hence the need to find, basically, a more modern Speak and Spell.
 
Hi, I know this is an old post from 2009, but I'm hoping "foodpoison" is still reading this forum.
My cousin has the same problem as your grandfather and I am looking for a device he can use to simply type out what he wants to say.
Did you find any device back then in 2009?
Thank you!
 
I would think that there's probably an app available for tablets/phones to translate text to the spoken word. Probably worth asking one of the support agencies about it.
 
An Android device like a tablet with the app "Type and Speak"
 
YES - BUT if your hand is not good - then speak and type is not too good for ease of use
 
Thank you, everyone but unfortunately we can't afford a smartphone or a tablet. Our financial means are limited and the medical investigations and the surgery he had so far have been quite expensive. And there is one more surgery coming up in order to remove his tumor. I'm thinking maybe I can find some simple device for children. Or even a second hand tablet.
Thank you and stay healthy!
 
Speak to the Occupational Therapy dept at the trust, they probably have something even if SALT don't.
 
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