Identifying Device Candidates

One of the most frequently asked questions among clinical teams who are new to high-tech AAC is, “Who is a good candidate for a Lingraphica AAC device?” There are actually few requirements to giving a Lingraphica AAC device a try. In general, any patient who has the following characteristics can be a good candidate:

A Mod-Severe or Severe Impairment

A good candidate for a Lingraphica AAC device is someone with a mod-severe or severe expressive speech/language impairment, or a moderate impairment with a degenerative condition (e.g., PPA). Some of the diagnoses Lingraphica frequently works with include:

 

Aphasia Autism Apraxia Dysarthria
Developmental Disabilities Traumatic Brain Injury Primary Progressive Aphasia

 

We encourage healthcare professionals to collaborate with their patient’s clinical team to get an accurate picture of the patient’s impairment level.

Physical Access

Healthcare Professionals are in the unique position to assess the patient’s ability to physically access the device in order to make selections. With Lingraphica devices, users who are physically impaired have the option to use any of several different device accessories.

Supportive Family Or Communication Partner

Although Lingraphica AAC devices are simple to use, the reality is that many users will continue to need help using the device. Having a supportive family member or communication partner helps to bridge the gap between what the user would like to do but might be unable to. Additionally, they may help to motivate the user to continue to use the device consistently.

Intrinsic Motivation

Finally, it helps when the user is motivated to increase their communication and life participation. When motivated, a device user is more likely to consistently use the device enough to better their communication and quality of life. Incorporating device use in healthcare sessions can help encourage an otherwise less-than-motivated user.

That’s it! Despite many pervasive AAC myths, there are no specific prerequisite skills or requirements that your patient must meet. Lingraphica devices are built to be accessible even to those who have language and/or cognitive impairments, or who have never used technology before. There’s no minimum amount of time post-onset you need to wait – traditional therapy and AAC can work together to maximize communication and recovery (Dietz, Wallace & Weissling, 2020). Still not sure if your patient will benefit? A device trial is your opportunity to find out, with no obligation.