CAA para personas con afasia

CAA para personas con afasia

Overview

El camino de la CAA para personas con afasia

Muchos profesionales que trabajan con personas con afasia no son conscientes de los beneficios de la CAA de alta tecnología, a pesar de que los estudios demuestran que puede mejorar drásticamente sus habilidades comunicativas y su calidad de vida en general. TD está aquí para apoyar a los profesionales que recomiendan sistemas, incluidos los logopedas y otros profesionales de la CAA, interesados en la CAA para personas con afasia. Ofrecemos experiencia y recursos para guiarte en cada etapa del camino. Empecemos analizando cada etapa del camino de la CAA:

Una mujer con afasia y un logopeda durante la etapa de evaluación del proceso de CAA

Evaluación

Durante una evaluación inicial, el/la profesional recopilará información detallada sobre las habilidades de comunicación y las necesidades de la persona. Esta evaluación se utilizará como base para recomendar la CAA (Comunicación Aumentativa y Alternativa).

Recomendación

Durante esta etapa, el/la profesional documentará la necesidad de CAA de la persona y determinará la solución adecuada para satisfacer sus necesidades y objetivos. Esto se utilizará como base para redactar una recomendación de un sistema de CAA.

Persona probando un dispositivo de CAA TD Navio con TD Snap Afasia durante la etapa de recomendación del proceso de CAA
Compañeros de Tobii Dynavox trabajando juntos durante la etapa de financiación del proceso de CAA

Financiación

La etapa de financiación puede variar de un país a otro; no obstante, hay puntos en común. Suele ser necesario contar con informes de evaluación y recomendación por parte de profesionales. En ocasiones, son los propios médicos quienes deben presentar las solicitudes para la financiación pública o para algún seguro; en otras, es la propia familia la que debe reunir estos documentos y realizar la solicitud. En algunos casos, también son necesarias pruebas con los dispositivos. Sea cual sea el caso, nuestros distribuidores locales pueden asistirte en cómo llevar a cabo estos procesos en tu país.

Configuración

Una vez que su cliente haya recibido el dispositivo financiado, este puede personalizarse en función de sus objetivos y preferencias de comunicación. Esto se hará junto con la persona usuaria y su círculo de cuidado para garantizar que aprovechen al máximo su sistema de CAA.

Un dispositivo de comunicación TD Navio listo para la configuración y personalización para una persona con afasia
Un miembro del equipo de soporte de TD ayudando a un cliente con su dispositivo de CAA

Apoyo

Durante esta última etapa, el/la profesional que ayudó a conseguir la financiación para el dispositivo de CAA a menudo ayuda a la persona usuaria con soporte continuo. También suelen ayudar a supervisar y adaptar el dispositivo para seguir el ritmo de las necesidades cambiantes del usuario/a.

Evaluation resources

As a speech therapist assessing autistic people for assistive communication, you will first gather detailed information about their abilities and needs. We’ve curated the following free resources to help you succeed during the evaluation stage of the AAC journey.

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Communicating with aphasia

This guide is designed to help speech therapists introduce AAC to people with aphasia and their care circles. It reviews the basics of our comprehensive communication solution, including AAC apps, devices & accessories, funding assistance, personalization options and ongoing support.

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Infographic on AAC myths and truths for augmentative communication.

AAC myth poster

You may have heard that AAC can’t support the unique needs of people with aphasia, or that it’s too complicated, difficult, and impersonal. You may even have heard that AAC will prevent a person with aphasia from potential speech recovery. We’ve debunked some common myths about AAC for people with aphasia in a printable poster. You can use it to educate others with facts and evidence. Simply download and print this free resource to display in your clinic, school or hospital.

Screenshot of myths poster
Screenshot from Learning Hub website

Learning Hub

The Learning Hub offers self-guided training opportunities, created by Tobii Dynavox professionals, available on demand. Create a free account and log in to access a library of online courses, recorded webinars, videos, quick guides, and other valuable resources. Once logged in, you can search the course catalog for the following resources, which are just some of the options available to help you in evaluating AAC solutions for your patients with aphasia:

  • Who Needs AAC Assessment (2A201)
  • A New Way of Communicating: AAC Assessment for Adults with Language Loss (4A009.4)
  • Understanding Aphasia (1B008)
  • AAC’s Role in Aphasia Therapy – Supporting Communication and Recovery (4A022.2)

Recommendation resources

Once the evaluation stage is complete, you’ll be ready to start recommending assistive communication to match your clients’ needs and goals. At this stage, it’s possible to help your clients find solutions to express themselves their way – anywhere, anytime with low-tech (print-based) or high-tech AAC. Here are some resources and information to get started with recommending AAC solutions for aphasia:

Low-tech AAC solutions for aphasia

Tobii Dynavox offers the following low-tech resources to support people with aphasia:

PCS (Picture Communication Symbols)

A library of symbol-based visuals to help people with communication disabilities express themselves.

Printable AAC

A set of printable, low-tech AAC communication boards and books plus other resources to foster communication, language and literacy skills.

High-tech AAC solutions for aphasia

Tobii Dynavox makes the following purpose-built assistive communication solutions to support people with aphasia:

Tobii Dynavox TD Navio medium device

TD Navio

A purpose-built touch screen, iOS-based speech generating device, pre-loaded with powerful AAC apps.

TD Snap

A symbol-supported AAC app offering a choice of solutions, including Core First, Motor Plan, PODD and Text page sets.

The following page sets within TD Snap software are designed for people with conditions like aphasia:

Tobii Dynavox TD Snap Aphasia on an assistive technology device

TD Snap Aphasia

A page set to help adults with aphasia communicate while also supporting language recovery, by Tobii Dynavox.

Tobii Dynavox TD Snap Text on an assistive technology device

TD Snap Text

A page set for those who are literate or transitioning from symbol supports to literacy, by Tobii Dynavox.

Tobii Dynavox TD Snap Express on an assistive technology device

TD Snap Express

A symbol-supported page set to help people express themselves using topic-related phrases and words.

Mounts, keyguards & other accessories

A full assistive communication solution for those with aphasia includes keyguards to support ease of navigation and device mounts for wheelchairs, desks and floors. Tobii Dynavox offers a collection of keyguards and mounts, as well as other accessories, to ensure your voice is heard wherever you go.

AAC Voices

Custom voice options are a standard component of Tobii Dynavox AAC solutions. A variety of options, from voice banking to synthetic voices, are available to people with conditions like aphasia. These solutions allow a person to continue communicating with a voice that reflects their identity.

Learning Hub

The Learning Hub offers self-guided training opportunities, created by Tobii Dynavox professionals, available on demand. Create a free account and log in to access a library of online courses, recorded webinars, videos, quick guides, and other valuable resources. Once logged in, you can search the course catalog for the following resources, which are just some of the options available to help you learn more about the AAC journey for aphasia:

  • Aphasia Getting Started Resources (1B009)
  • Creating a Shared Space for Communication with TD Snap Aphasia (4A022.1)
  • TD Snap Aphasia Essentials (6B101)
  • TD Snap Aphasia Resources Library (6B102)
  • Communication Partner Training for AAC and Aphasia (4A021)

Funding resources

Now that you have recommended an AAC solution for your client, it’s time to secure funding to help them cover device costs. This will involve navigating a complex application process that takes time and perseverance. We’ve worked hard to help simplify the process as much as possible. This includes guidance from an in-house team of funding specialists and a dedicated e-funding website to help guide you every step of the way:

Funding consultants

A dedicated, experienced, in-house funding team that acts as a guide and liaison with hundreds of insurance companies. This helps clinicians and their clients secure funding to help cover device costs.

Funding website

A website with step-by-step instructions to help clinicians navigate and apply for financial coverage of a communication device. This how-to website covers both the offline and e-funding process.

Set up resources

After securing funding for device, we offer everything you need to know about getting set up and using it. We’ve made it easy to get started with a device, and its pre-loaded software TD Snap. We offer a getting started guide, ongoing learning resources and related low-tech solutions to complement TD Snap, including a communication board. If you get stuck, tech support is available every day. And if something goes wrong, there’s a comprehensive warranty.

TD Navio product image

TD Navio

TD Snap

Support resources

Now that you and your clients are on their way with assistive communication, the last stage may very well be the most important one: ensuring ongoing success. You’ve helped your clients come this far, and they will continue to look to you for continued support. We are always here to help guide you with the following resources:

Learning resources

Boost your knowledge of our products, learn implementation strategies, stay up-to-date on best practices and more with live and on-demand learning.

Support articles

Search our database of frequently asked questions for answers about many of our products and services.

Customer support

Contact our dedicated support team and find links to common topics such as warranties, repairs and funding.

Reliable warranty

Get industry-leading support through a 5-year warranty, available with all Tobii Dynavox devices.

Resource center

Visit our online Resource Center to discover and download print AAC supports, training materials, and informative resources.

Our role is to help you succeed

Don’t forget that you can always reach out to a Tobii Dynavox Solutions Consultant near you for guidance. We’re here to help you and your clients succeed on this AAC journey.