Health Law

New Device Gives Voice to Kids with Cerebral Palsy

A new device reportedly enables children living with cerebral palsy to communicate through voice recognition. At times, due to their disability, those with cerebral palsy are unable to speak properly. This can make it difficult to communicate with those around them. However, one child Katie Suggitt, 5, is benefiting from the new technology, which has enabled her to voice emotions, as well as her wants and needs. 
 
Child's Play Made Easier
 
Katie and her identical twin sister, Emily, take turns picking out shoes, eyes, a mouth and nose as they put together their own, unique version of the popular children's game, Mr. Potato Head.
 
"That looks silly," Katie says giggling as Emily adds a moustache and proceeds to add purse to hang from the toy's arm.
 
The catch? When Katie talks the pronouncement doesn't come directly from her mouth. Instead, it stems from a computerized speech-generating device that is capable of giving the child a voice.

Speech Device Proves Beneficial
 
Katie was one of the many children who are born with cerebral palsy in the United States each year. Cerebral palsy is a disability that's caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain. This lack of oxygen can occur either before or during childbirth. The disability has left Katie with physical weaknesses as well as some developmental delays, including her ability to talk. Unlike her sister, Emily was not born with cerebral palsy.
 
Both girls are currently being taught at Bloorview Kids Rehab in Toronto, where Katie is learning how to use this revolutionary speech-generating device, which has been custom-designed for her needs and heightened development.

The device consists of multiple screens that Katie can access. Each screen has its own grid of 45 squares, which contain words paired with visual of drawings or photos. The device was designed to be set on a table and can even be mounted onto Katie's wheelchair. It allows Katie to switch from screen to screen and touch a series of screens with word-pictures.These pictures allow her to activate her "voice."

The voice has been designed to sound like a young child and literally speaks for Katie the words that she's physically unable to utter. As times passes, the device will allow her access to thousands more words and phrases.

Full post as published by Cerebral Palsy Law Blog on October 20, 2009 (boomark / email).