For individuals who have no speaking voice or are difficult to understand, the inability to speak does not equate to having nothing to say. Today, advances in technology have revolutionized how people communicate, enabling them to lead creative, fulfilling, and participatory lives. This is made possible through Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC), particularly with Voice Output Communication Aids (VOCAs), which give a synthesized voice to their words.
How Communication Aids Work
Most modern communication aids are specialized touchscreen computers equipped with an integrated speaker. Users construct messages using an on-screen alphabet keyboard or symbol-based software. However, many users have limited hand function, requiring them to use alternative access methods:
Switches: These can be controlled by a simple movement of the hand, head, or foot. For some, like the filmmaker in this article, a switch is controlled using vibrations from the throat as the computer scans through message options.
Eye Gaze Technology: In recent years, this technology has allowed many individuals to control their communication aid using only their eye movement. A carefully calibrated camera tracks the user’s gaze to make selections. This same technology provides independent control over a computer and home environment, enabling activities ranging from film editing to grocery shopping.
The Evolution of the Digital Voice
Early synthesized speech was often robotic and offered little choice. Today, a wide range of accents and characteristics are available, though some users choose to keep the voices they have always used, as the voice becomes part of their identity—a famous example being Stephen Hawking.
Now, voice banking is becoming more accessible. This process allows someone who is expecting to lose their speaking voice to record words and phrases that can be replicated on a computer, essentially preserving their original voice. For people who have never been able to speak, technology allows them to invite a family member or friend to become a voice donor, providing a personalized sound for their speech.
Overcoming Barriers
While technology for talking is becoming increasingly individualized and powerful, using it is not always easy. Access methods like switch control and eye gaze are physically tiring and require intense concentration.
Often, the biggest challenge is not the technology itself, but the attitude of others. It takes time to compose messages, and users often face impatience; some people walk away before the message is finished, or they patronize users, failing to recognize that non-speaking individuals have valuable contributions to make.
Despite these challenges, technology allows people to express their ideas, work, create, and form relationships. Digital artists, web developers, national charity runners, and filmmakers are all proof that a lack of a speaking voice does not limit a creative life. The key is simple: patience. If you give a user of a communication aid time to answer, you will find they have something important to say.
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