Method
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Description
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Pros and Cons
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Makaton symbols and signing
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Using symbols, signs and speech as a form of communication. Signs are used along with speech for extra clarity. |
Pros
- Signs are used consistently across settings
- Signs are only used for key words which slows down speech and helps understanding
Cons
- Partner needs training to understand signs
- Physical impairments can make accurate signing hard
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Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
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To improve social communication and allow people to make choices, a person can communicate by handing people cards with pictures on. |
Pros
- Easily understandable for partner
- Tangible
Cons
- Can be resource heavy and cards can be easily lost
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Voice Output Communication Aids (VOCA) e.g. Proloquo2Go
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An app that gets loaded to a tablet so people can tap icons and create sentences that get read out by the device. |
Pros
- Easy to adapt
- Can be made bespoke
- Portable
- Easy for partner to understand
Cons
- High cost
- Attention can drift to other apps
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Communication books
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A picture-based book where the user points to items to communicate |
Pros
- Easily personalised
- Easily portable
- Free to create, or templates can be bought online
Cons
- Time-consuming to create
- No voice output so the user must first gain the attention of their partner
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Go Talk
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A battery-powered, speech-generating device |
Pros
- Personalised for each learner
- Voice output and press-button function for multiple sensory feedback
- Hard-wearing
Cons
- High cost
- Heavy / bulky to transport
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