Re: vantage vs dynavox (minspeak vs interaact)

May 14, 2010

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

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

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

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May 14, 2010

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!!

May 15, 2010

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.

>

May 15, 2010

No big deal. When my 8dd got her Apraxia dx at 4yrs old...we began looking into

a device. My SD did their own eval and bought a brand new Tech Speak just for

her! Than...I asked about it coming home! Their response was: we bought this for

her to use at school, but its still OUR device! Their goal is to use it to help

her communicate at school. They knew she used sign at home and they wanted

complete control. Thats when someone suggested we go to the very well known

Rehab hospital here in NY. We went there for the eval and the tech there loaned

us the same Tech Speak that the SD had so we could continue at home. It was the

tech at the rehab hospital that said: let her try this for a year and when she

gets used to what its for, we'll apply to your insurance for a brand new and

much more sophisticated device. Thats what we did. we went back when she was

five yrs old and she helped us get the newest Dynavox V. This way I had control

of it at home, I was able to send it to school and make sure I knew who was

using it. Her SLP at school loved having it there and went for training on her

own for the Dynavox, I also loaned her our manual.

Thats why we got our own--so only I would be able to control it and it could

still be used at home.

Maureen

>

>> 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

>

May 15, 2010

That is great!

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)