Number Therapy by Tactus Therapy Solutions Ltd.

Number Therapy app is a game changer.  I'm practicing MYSELF.

I had a stroke seven years ago. I have aphasia and apraxia.
I have great difficulties comprehending numbers when they are spoken to me. However, I do understand them when they are written down.  It is hard to say numbers.

Tactus Therapy's Number Therapy App is good, really good.  Three sections - Understand, Speak, and Type.

I mostly practice the double digits. Anything goes - currency, phone number, time and more.  And you can record yourself... It's cool!

Understand - I use "listen" and guess from 4 multiple-choice.

Speak - I like cues.  You touch the cue buttons and it helps right away.

Type - I use "listen" and guess.  You ask a hint, and it gives a number word.

By the way, I like "select the text" to hear it spoken by the help/information page.  How cool!

Number Therapy Lite (free) - here

What is Aphasia? PDF

I will be going to Bunco night with my friends and some very nice strangers.

I looked for a wallet card or PDF to explain aphasia, but nothing I found was quite right.

I was looking for one that had points about:

1. Defining "aphasia" in simple English 

2. Reducing background noise 

3. Asking yes/no questions 

4. Writing down key words (names, places, numbers)

So, I created my own! I made a PDF.  If a very nice stranger at Bunco (dice game) Night introduces herself to me, I say, "I'm Trish. I have aphasia."

The very nice stranger will say, "What is aphasia?"

I will whip out an iPhone and my "What is aphasia" PDF in the iBooks app.  Ta-daaaa! 

I put a PDF file here

iPhone - What is Aphasia? PDF in iBooks app

What is Aphasia? PDF

iPhone/iPad/iPod touch Accessibility

Intuitive by design, iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch also come with assistive features that allow people with disabilities to experience the fun and function of iOS. With these innovative technologies built right in, iOS devices become powerful and affordable assistive devices.

~Apple iOS Accessibility web

Go to Settings > General > Accessibility

Accessibility web here. 

Accessibility Tips and Tricks web here.

Lists of iPad and iPhone Apps for SLPs and Stroke Survivors from Working Speech Pathologists

I'm so excited!  There are so many apps available on iPads/iPhones to help people with their speech. 

I found four great reports on iPad/iPhone apps. Below are descriptions of each.

1. Tactus Therapy Solutions presents:  200+ Apps for Adult-Focused Speech Therapy - here

The Independent Living Centre of WA has a great resource for ipad and iPhone apps. It is great for both Speech-Language Pathologists and stroke survivors. It goes over the basics if using the device and gives great reviews for many useful apps. 

Below are the links to the extensive report. I've noted the pages I found most useful for people with aphasia and apraxia.

2. ILC's Using iPads in Speech Pathology

Click here to read the report.

• iPad settings - page 7

• Aphasia Apps - pages 101 - 102

• Apraxia of Speech Apps - pages 103 - 104

3. ILC's Getting Started - useful iDevice (iPad, iPod, & iPhone) Apps

Click here to view the file.

• Lists of Apps recommended or reviewed - page 0

• Communication (like Prologuo2Go) - pages 3 - 5

• Comprehensive Literacy Support (like iWordQ) - page 19

• Math - pages 20 - 21

• eBooks (like Read2Go & iBook) - page 29

4. Jane Farrall is a speech-language pathologist and and expert in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Assistive Technology in Victoria, Australia. 

Here are links to her AAC apps lists and reviews:

Jane's AAC Apps in Symbol/Picture Apps is here

Jane's AAC Apps in Symbol/Text-to-Speech is here

Jane's AAC Apps in Text Based Apps is here

Video on Neuroplasticity

"You can help develop new neural pathways.

Effort. Work. Repeated trials.

When David was in ICU and not speaking, I asked the neurologist this question,

"If this was your loved one- What would you do?"

He replied, "Stimulate, stimulate, stimulate -but not to the point of exhaustion."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Play a game. Find simple ways he can be successful - and keep challenging him to do a little more."

Up until that time, I thought David's best recovery would come from just resting.

I was wrong. Recovery takes ACTIVE participation.

Work every day on recovery. Little by little - your brain can create new pathways.

It is often painfully slow to see progress - but you can't give up!

NEVER GIVE UP."  
by Carol Dow-Richards, Stroke Advocate/Writer/Volunteer ARC


Tactus Therapy blog's "10 Things Stroke Survivors Need To Understand About Neuroplasticity":  here

Traditional Game & Computer/iPhone/iPad Games: here

Speech Therapy: iPad app & websites

Apps for iPad

• Apraxia Speech - ($4.99 - here)
• Speech sounds on cue (lite) - (free - here)
• Visual Attention TherAppy Lite (free - here)
• Language TherApply Lite (free - here)

Websites

• Randell's ESL Cyber Listening Lab:   http://esl-lab.com/
• Activities for ESL Students:  http://a4esl.org/
• English Worksheets: http://www.englishforeveryone.org/

Traditional Game & Computer/iPhone/iPad Games

Your brain is continually finding new pathways.  A great way to encourage your brain to find new paths is to play games.  You can play traditional board games or electronic games on you computer, iPad, etc.

Here are some games I would recommend based on my own experience as well as that of my speech therapist and input from members of one of my stroke support groups:

Traditional Game:

• Gobblet:  here
• Mandala:  here
• Chess & Checker
• Poker & Blackblack & Hearts
• Mexican Train Domino:  here
• ThinkFun Rush:  here

Computer Games & Apple Apps

• Luminosity.com ( 5 free to training - pay to month) - Cognitive retraining computer program:  

• Temple Run  (free - $0.99):  here
• Simon Classic (free - here) or iMimic ($0.99 - here) 
• Mancala (free) - here
• Hearts (free) - here
• FlingFree (free - here) or Fling ($0.99 - here)

iPhone/iPad "Speak Selection" On/Off

I use the iPhone and iPad's speaking capability to read text for me. When I hear the text as the same time that I read it, it helps me understand it better.

To make sure that your Speak Selection is on, go to Settings=>General=>Accessibility=>Speak Selection in "ON"

You can also change the speaking rate by using the slider bar labeled "Speaking Rate." I find that a slower rate is easier to understand.

Have text read to you:  Select the text, then tap Speak.

iPhone/iPad Siri

The iPhone and iPad have been real big help to me in my communication. Sometimes my spoken language is better than my written language. That's when I use Siri on my iPhone or my iPad. Siri can help with many apps. Other apps have a voice command ability.

 Sometimes I can't pronounce a word correctly and it won't understand, but then I can type it correctly by hand.  It's great to have the choice.

To use the voice command, look for the microphone button on the keyboard. Just touch the microphone button, speak what you want to say, and the device will type the text for you. It is pretty good at recognizing what I say.




To use Siri, make sure it is turned on by going to "Settings" then "General" then "Siri."  Then just touch and hold the menu button, and Siri will be ready to help.

"I have a speech problem called aphasia."

One of the first things that you should do if you suffer from aphasia as a result of  a stroke or some other head injury, is to let the person you are dealing with know that you have a problem communicating.  At the University of Michigan's Aphasia program one the most important and helpful things I learned to say was "I have a speech problem called aphasia".  This has been so important when communicating with the waitstaff at restaurants, with a mechanic or any other person I may meet during my daily routine.

Following is a link to the program:  University of Michigan Aphasia Program:  here.

I found that I needed more than just my own speech to communicate.  To assist me I found a application for my iphone called Prologuo2go.  This saves previously set up phrases that I can play back to the person I am communicating with.

Please use the following link for more information on Proloquo2Go:  here

Accessible e-Book Reader

Accessible Books and Periodicals for Readers with Print Disabilities

• Bookshare® is free for all U.S. students with qualifying disabilities, thanks to an award from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP).
• Bookshare dramatically increases the accessibility of books. People with disabilities deserve the same ease of access to books and periodicals that people without disabilities enjoy.
• A searchable online library. Bookshare offers over 134,000 digital books, textbooks, teacher-recommended reading, periodicals and assistive technology tools.
• Readers of all ages. Bookshare offers affordable membership, unlimited library privileges and a community of Members, Volunteers, parents, publishers and authors

~Book Share web

To go to the Book Share website click here.

App for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch Allows Users to Read Bookshare Books

Read2Go ($19.99) is the most full-featured, accessible DAISY reader for the Apple device market. Books downloaded from Bookshare are stored on a bookshelf. Users can choose to read them using text-to-speech with synchronized word-by-word highlighting and audio provided by the highly natural Acapela voices or in VoiceOver mode with the Acapela or Apple voices.  Based on reading preferences, users have a wide range of options for font size, color and background color. In addition to adjusting the rate of the audio, users can turn the text-to-speech on and off. Further, Read2Go supports all levels of DAISY navigation that are included in the structure of the book, navigation using VoiceOver gestures, as well as connectivity with Bluetooth-enabled braille devices.

~ V. Chernek, September 8, 2011, Bookshare News 

To go to the read2go website click here

  

How to write numbers in words

I have trouble writing numbers out in words, for instance in writing a check.

I have found an iPhone app and a website to help me with this problem. You enter the number and it converts it into words for you.  

To go to the CheckMate app - here

To go to the Really Big Numbers website click here

Can you say really big numbers? math cats explore (1) Enter a big number. (It can even be bigger than this box!) (This number can be rounded to: ) (2) Say the number out loud. (3) See how to write it. (4) Read it out loud and check: did you say it correctly?? Attention please! The Math Cats name large numbers the American way. Many countries in Europe use another system. The MegaPenny Project shows you lots and lots of pennies, up to one quintillion! And there's a chart showing how to name numbers up to 1 followed by 120 zeros. (After your visit, close the MegaPenny Project window to return to Math Cats.) copyright 2003 - 2012 by Wendy Petti of Math Cats and Maurici Carbó Jordi of Nummolt. All Rights Reserved.

Dragon Dictition

When my speaking is better than my typing, I use Dragon Dictation, a free app for the iPhone or iPad. Ellen DeGeneres demonstrated Dragon Dictation on her show.

X-Mini Capsule Speaker

The iPhone's speakers are not loud enough, so here you go! This speaker is small and compact, and it is nice quality.  You can also get a longer cord for it so that it is out of the way.

You can buy this speaker at Amazon.com.  Extension cords are also available.

Apple Mac Text to Speech Function

I use this function on my computer to understand the text. It speaks the text on the screen aloud.

This function is on every Apple product. Access it by going to Apple Icon ---> System Preferences ---> Speech ---> Text to Speech. You can set the voice and speed you prefer, as well as the keyboard key combination that will enable it.

For the iPhone and iPad, find it under Settings ---> General ---> Accessibility ---> Speak Auto-text

iPhone/iPad P2Go app (revision 5)

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is a term that is used various methods of communication that can help people who are unable to use verbal speech communicate.  High-tech AAC app is tons of apps... which one?

The Speech-language pathologist's (SLP’s) is important for high-tech AAC.  A SLP's is:   

• People with aphasia’s skills and challenges (communicator: emerging, contextual choice, transitional, stored message, and generative message)

• Good AAC system (accessibility, intuitive, customisation, free or buy, multipurpose)

• The attitudes, beliefs and knowledge of communication partners are pivotal in the success story of AAC

• It may be helpful for the primary communication partners (husband/wife, caregivers, friends, and teacher) to be part of the speech therapist’s training with the A A C

• It is important for the listener to be people with aphasia.

^{__________________________________________________________}



I like this app on my iPhone. It is called Proloquo2Go. It helps me communicate.

This app is available on iPod touch and iPad, too.  Price:  $249.99

I know, it's expensive.  An alternative that is highly recommended by a member of ARC:  Alexicon ACC (free - here)

Jane Farrall is a speech pathologist and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) apps list and rates:

Jane's AAC Apps in Symbol/Text-to-Speech is here