Non-Verbal Communication Devices for Children with Cerebral Palsy
Children who have cerebral palsy certainly have some extra challenges in life. Cerebral Palsy is a chronic condition that occurs due to damage to the brain during pregnancy, delivery or an injury in very early childhood. The way it affects each person can vary depending on which part of the brain has been affected, but some common issues associated with Cerebral Palsy are speech impairment, spastic movements, lack of muscle control or muscle weakness and mental challenges. Children with Cerebral Palsy often have difficulty communicating with family and peers because of these adversities. This can be understandably frustrating to them.
Dramatically reducing this frustration, is an amazing new device that allows children with verbal impairments to “speak”. The speech-generator operates with a touch screen. The child can scroll through a series of screens, each customized to suit her level of development. For example, for children who do not yet read, the screens contain small pictures of the words. For many children with cerebral palsy, this opens up a whole new realm of possibilities; it gives them the opportunity to communicate with practically anyone they want.