Re: Re: vantage vs dynavox (minspeak vs interaact)

[Guest guest]

Hi, thanks for the great input. I do think the new ipad might work for him

eventually, but not sure he has the fine motor control for the double clicking I

heard they require. In the back of my mind I've been thinking of one of these

big cumbersome ones as a stop gap until the time he could access the ipad or

phone. I agree that it will get tiring very quickly to haul the big device

around. Plus, he's very active so what are the odds that the device is near by

when he wants to say something spontaneoulsy. But until he can talk, I don't

want to hold back his communciation and language development.

Thanks again for responding and giving such great feedback! Jess

________________________________

From: mosense <mosense@...>

Sent: Fri, May 14, 2010 10:04:26 AM

Subject: [ ] Re: vantage vs dynavox (minspeak vs interaact)

My 8yr old daughter got a Dynavox V four years ago.I have no experience with

Vantage. We were loaned a Tech Speak to get her used to using a device. We went

thru a Rehab hospital 45minutes from my house. The AAC expert there had every

kind of device out there in her office! That way when she had kids coming in she

could try each type and see which one fit their needs and abilities the best.

Our insurance and my daughters medicaid paid for the whole thing. I was told it

was an $8000 device.

I see yours just turned 3! So if you havent had to take it anywhere with you

yet. We've sent hers to school and its part of it is making sure you know who

has control of such an amazing little device. Its kind of bulky to drag around

and have the teachers, and bus drivers! have to keep track of!!

My point is...I've heard of many kids getting an iPod Touch for a communication

device!! They're tiny and handheld and can do so much. As my daughter began to

talk more, the Dynavox left the house even less!! Do they expect your son to

eventually talk?

I heard of a school district that bought 10 iPod Touch's because at $200-300

they're much easier to carry around and cheaper than even one Dynavox!

When/if my daughter is ready for a new device--I'll be looking at something much

more compact and easy to carry around! Thats what I'd look for if i were you!

IPods werent around even 4-5 years ago when we were shopping for devices!!

Try bringing the Dynavox around with you for a day and see if you'd like to be a

little kid bringing it around school! I know they said it was very heavy for my

daughter to carry all day. Although its an amazing device with Windows XP and it

has her favorite music, pictures and can speak type written phrases---its just

lugging it around!!

[Guest guest]

Hi , Thank you so much for pointing me to these groups. I'll get right

on trying to sign up to them!

Many thanks! Jess

________________________________

From: Stier <dstier2001@...>

Sent: Fri, May 14, 2010 9:19:25 AM

Subject: [ ] Re: vantage vs dynavox (minspeak vs interaact)

You should check out the PACT group (its a group I think), which is

totally devoted to AAC, and also google the AAC Institute and join the parent

group there. There are very helpful people on both of these sites. Good Luck.

[Guest guest]

I would highly recommend trying the iPad or iPod at the Apple store-if you have

one near you. I am typing on my iPad right now. I LOVE it! The battery lasts

10hrs, it's lightweight, has a large screen (for fine motor or vision concerns),

can attach to a separate keyboard, & much more. I attended a conference today

and only took notes on my iPad. there are several programs for it that may

soon be appropriate for your son. Proloquo2Go has boards you can modify like you

can on the Dynavox or Vantage. Except for the keyboard on screen or attached,

most functions require one tap/touch at a time. For older kids, another great

program is Speak It! which has a keyboard & is a text to speech output.

Since your dtr is young she may need the Vantage or Dynavox now & can move to a

smaller device as she gets older.

Warmest wishes,

Barbara , M.S., CCC-SLP

www.helpmespeak.com

410-442-9791

Ask me about NutriiVeda!

On May 14, 2010, at 4:30 PM, Jess <jess5192000@...> wrote:

> Hi, thanks for the great input. I do think the new ipad might work for him

eventually, but not sure he has the fine motor control for the double clicking I

heard they require. In the back of my mind I've been thinking of one of these

big cumbersome ones as a stop gap until the time he could access the ipad or

phone. I agree that it will get tiring very quickly to haul the big device

around. Plus, he's very active so what are the odds that the device is near by

when he wants to say something spontaneoulsy. But until he can talk, I don't

want to hold back his communciation and language development.

> Thanks again for responding and giving such great feedback! Jess

>

> ________________________________

> From: mosense <mosense@...>

>

> Sent: Fri, May 14, 2010 10:04:26 AM

> Subject: [ ] Re: vantage vs dynavox (minspeak vs interaact)

>

> My 8yr old daughter got a Dynavox V four years ago.I have no experience with

Vantage. We were loaned a Tech Speak to get her used to using a device. We went

thru a Rehab hospital 45minutes from my house. The AAC expert there had every

kind of device out there in her office! That way when she had kids coming in she

could try each type and see which one fit their needs and abilities the best.

Our insurance and my daughters medicaid paid for the whole thing. I was told it

was an $8000 device.

>

> I see yours just turned 3! So if you havent had to take it anywhere with you

yet. We've sent hers to school and its part of it is making sure you know who

has control of such an amazing little device. Its kind of bulky to drag around

and have the teachers, and bus drivers! have to keep track of!!

>

> My point is...I've heard of many kids getting an iPod Touch for a

communication device!! They're tiny and handheld and can do so much. As my

daughter began to talk more, the Dynavox left the house even less!! Do they

expect your son to eventually talk?

>

> I heard of a school district that bought 10 iPod Touch's because at $200-300

they're much easier to carry around and cheaper than even one Dynavox!

>

> When/if my daughter is ready for a new device--I'll be looking at something

much more compact and easy to carry around! Thats what I'd look for if i were

you! IPods werent around even 4-5 years ago when we were shopping for devices!!

>

> Try bringing the Dynavox around with you for a day and see if you'd like to be

a little kid bringing it around school! I know they said it was very heavy for

my daughter to carry all day. Although its an amazing device with Windows XP and

it has her favorite music, pictures and can speak type written phrases---its

just lugging it around!!

>

>

[Guest guest]

Yes, I understand it's for your 3yr old. I would not expect her to carry

around any of the devices--Dynavox, iPad or iPod. Not at her age because if she

drops it, it could break.

There are some program differences between the iPad & iPod touch. Most programs

run on both but not all. The main difference is the screen size. Visual skills

are impt to consider when selecting a device. I would hope that the

county/school SLP AAC specialist would give input.

Several of my clients have a Vantage and it is big & heavy. Same w/Dynavox.

I know it differs around the country but I'm wondering why your ins had to pay

for it vs the school loaning you one--which is what happens here. Not meaning

this to sound accusatory at all, just wondering.

I hope u get the best device possible!

Warmest wishes, Barbara A , M.S., CCC-SLP,Executive Director, Help Me

Speak, LLC 410-442-9791 www.helpmespeak.com

[ ] Re: vantage vs dynavox (minspeak vs interaact)

You're still looking at it from an adult point of view, not a 3yr old. I dont

think my 8yr old daughter could carry around and ipad! We did go to the Apple

store where they have four tables of them laid out to play with. Its also a

brand new device--I dont think any school district or my insurance would cover

such a fun toy! Maybe for me--but not for her. I dont know what sizes the

Vantage comes in but if they're smaller--I'd look into them. Now that we have a

Dyanvox--I've just learned to tell people to look around since there are so many

new options. Ipod Touch is much more reasonable in price and weight for any

school or insurance to cover. It does all the same stuff without the price tag

of an ipad.

I'm not sure about the insurance companies but we also had to consider that my

dd's medicaid would only cover a device every five years. so they loaned us the

Tech Speak (which still serves its purpose) until she got used to what the

device was for. Than after a year--they helped us get the Dynavox. Now that five

years is almost up and I'm thinking of looking into a much smaller, compact one

too.

>

> I would highly recommend trying the iPad or iPod at the Apple store-if you

have one near you. I am typing on my iPad right now. I LOVE it! The battery

lasts 10hrs, it's lightweight, has a large screen (for fine motor or vision

concerns), can attach to a separate keyboard, & much more. I attended a

conference today and only took notes on my iPad. there are several programs

for it that may soon be appropriate for your son. Proloquo2Go has boards you can

modify like you can on the Dynavox or Vantage. Except for the keyboard on screen

or attached, most functions require one tap/touch at a time. For older kids,

another great program is Speak It! which has a keyboard & is a text to speech

output.

>