AAC and progressive neurological disorders

Progressive neurological disorders are conditions that affect the nervous system and become more severe with time.  Some examples of progressive neurological disorders are Motor Neurone Disease, Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis.  As these disorders affect nerve supply to the muscles used for talking, people may lose their speech.

Progressive neurological disorders sometimes progress at a slow rate.  This means there is time to prepare for the loss of speech.  A person can help to develop, and learn to use, alternative and/or augmentative communication methods while he or she still has some speech. For example, voice banking may be used.  This is when a person’s voice is recorded while they still have functional speech so that it can be used with a voice output communication aid later.

People who have progressive neurological disorders often have good spelling and a good ability to understand other people. They may use an AAC system that is based on spelling.

The National Relay Service (NRS) provides telephone support to individuals who have complex communication needs and their communication partners. There are two different ways that the NRS provides help. Firstly, people with speech that is difficult to understand can speak to the operator at NRS who will interpret what is said and repeat the message to the listener. Secondly, a person with a progressive disease may use a telephone typewriter (TTY). This is a keyboard attached to a telephone, which is used by the person to type their message. The message is received by the relay officer who reads it aloud to the listener. In both situations the listener uses speech to respond.

Personal response systems are small personal alarms, which may be worn around the neck, on the wrist, or on a key ring.  They allow people who have complex communication needs to access help in an emergency situation.