Tap to Talk

[Guest guest]

Has anyone tried the Tap to Talk software? It can supposedly turn your Nintendo

DS into an augmentative communcation device. My son's school is trying it out

for another student and suggested it may be good for my son too. It is $100/yr

for the software which is much cheaper than all the standard computerized

augmentative communication devices and seems to be more portable (his teacher

said the NT kids in the class all were ohhing and ahhing about how cool it was

which helped increase the social interactions between the apraxic and NT kids).

Any good or bad comments for those that use it?

[Guest guest]

I am new to this group and this is my first post. My son is 4 ½ diagnosed

with severe verbal apraxia, global motor planning issues and some sensory

issues. He has about 25 word approximations. He is in our towns integrated

pre-k program where he gets speech X 3, OT x 1 and PT x 1 a week outside of

class. We supplement speech once a week outside of the classroom.

Over this past year the school introduced to the Itouch with an AC

program loaded on it called Proloquo2go. We have had pretty good success

using this device for in the classroom but have floundered at home.

He can participate in some circle time activities using it. His school

therapist is learning this tool and how to implemented as we go so I feel

we are lacking in how we use it. We paid 100 for a used itouch on craig’s

list and 200 for the software. However, the first Itouch put the

external speaker in his month and then back into the itouch and fried the

device. We bought a second itouch but this time have a heavy duty case so

he can’t break it again.

I have not heard about any AC program using the Nintendo DS as of yet but

would definitely recommend looking into the itouch. I live in the Boston

area and have an appt setup with Children’s Hospital Center of Enhanced

Communication in a few weeks. My goal is to have some people who are

trained in Augmentative communication help us take full advantage of this

powerful tool. I will also ask about the Nintendo DS too. I am sure these

folks are informed about anything new out there.

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of wandre_k

Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 7:44 AM

Subject: [ ] Tap to Talk

Has anyone tried the Tap to Talk software? It can supposedly turn your

Nintendo DS into an augmentative communcation device. My son's school is

trying it out for another student and suggested it may be good for my son

too. It is $100/yr for the software which is much cheaper than all the

standard computerized augmentative communication devices and seems to be

more portable (his teacher said the NT kids in the class all were ohhing and

ahhing about how cool it was which helped increase the social interactions

between the apraxic and NT kids).

Any good or bad comments for those that use it?

[Guest guest]

Hi there,

I purchased a Nintendo DSi and the Tap to Talk program for my six year old son.

The benefits include the portability and the 'cool' look that other kids relate

to. The price is also a definite plus.

The Tap to Talk program worked well to introduce my son to a higher tech device.

He had been using PECS and a Go Talk (a lower tech device that involves creating

templates on paper that you have to insert into the device - they have to be

changed for each activity).

I do not regret buying the Tap to Talk. However, my son has apraxia and severe

dysarthria and he will likely use a voice output device for years. The device

will serve as his main source of communication so we are now ready to move him

to a larger device that has more capability.

The Nintendo allows for twelve pictures on the screen at one time. You can layer

underneath each picture. We are using a core language approach with my son. I

learned that it is ideal to have as many core words available on the main screen

as possible. Twelve spaces is just not enough.

I don't know the communication needs of your son but the Tap to Talk is a good

program, easy to use and I experienced great customer support and technical

support from the company.

Maybe it is a good thing that your son's school is trying out the Tap to Talk.

That way you can get a look at it before purchasing it yourself.

I hope this is helpful! Good luck with your decision.

>

> Has anyone tried the Tap to Talk software? It can supposedly turn your

Nintendo DS into an augmentative communcation device. My son's school is trying

it out for another student and suggested it may be good for my son too. It is

$100/yr for the software which is much cheaper than all the standard

computerized augmentative communication devices and seems to be more portable

(his teacher said the NT kids in the class all were ohhing and ahhing about how

cool it was which helped increase the social interactions between the apraxic

and NT kids).

>

> Any good or bad comments for those that use it?

>