Q&A

Subject: Mute problem!

From: AA

Hi! I am writing this letter to acquire more info about mute disability. Actually, I am trying to help my friend who cannot speak. What is the term used for mute people? What is the cheapest available method of helping such people to make their communication easier? I see from TV that there is a device that these people can use by putting it on their throat when they want to speak and a voice will be generated based on the vibration of their throat which mimics speech. Where can I get such devices? And how much does it cost? Does it work for any type of mute problems? Please recommend any better solution than this...

The very first step to discover why your friend cannot speak. Adult? Child? Hearing impaired? Stroke victim? Neuro muscular disorder? Your friend really should be evaluated by a speech language pathologist and also a physician to diagnose the underlying cause and then get appropriate help.

There are devices which are sometimes helpful called "artificial larynx" a type of vibrator that a person can be trained to use in combination with movements of the lips, tongue and teeth to produce intelligible speech. There are computer programs which can "talk" by saying aloud what is typed into them. Still others use communication boards to identify their needs by pointing to pictures.

And of course, many deaf individuals communicate quite successfully through sign language, cued speech and speech reading (lip reading plus). As you can imagine, choosing the best means of communication is highly dependent upon thorough evaluation of the underlying problems.

If you need assistance locating a speech pathologist in your area, you can contact the American Speech and Hearing Association in Rockville, Maryland. You might try www.asha.org for further assistance.

Good luck!
Solveig Ingersoll