AlphaTopics - AAC 1.11

Sometimes, a simple hint or context is all that your listener needs to comprehend your message. AlphaTopics offers the perfect solution for individuals whose natural speech is not always clear.

With AlphaTopics, you can convey your thoughts more efficiently by simply touching the first few letters of the words you want to say. This app allows you to provide context by initiating conversations with specific topics, eliminating the need for cumbersome navigation or extensive typing.

Tactus Therapy, a respected name in speech therapy apps, presents a fresh approach to a classic communication tool with AlphaTopics. This AAC app offers three communication boards designed with a range of features:

1. Letter Board
   • Includes 26 letters in alphabetical order or two variations of frequency order
   • Features 10 single digits for expressing any number
   • Highlights and aligns vowels for quicker navigation
   • Provides natural or automated speech for each letter or number
   • Contains extra buttons for functions such as 'yes,' 'no,' question, smiley, space, and backspace
2. Topic Board
   • Customizable text that can be rearranged
   • Voice output with adjustable speech rate
   • Two grid sizes to display either 12 or 24 topics
   • Pre-loaded with functional topics suitable for adults
3. Whiteboard
   • Ability to write or draw on the screen
   • Offers 6 colors and 4 widths for customization
   • Allows export to Photos or email

Studies have demonstrated that using alphabet and topic boards together substantially enhances the speech intelligibility of individuals with motor speech disorders. When combined with the whiteboard feature, these tools assist individuals with aphasia in expressing themselves more clearly by using self-cueing and various strategies.

Various conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, and motor neuron disease can inhibit speech production. By pointing to the first letter in each word, speakers not only provide additional information to the listener but also improve word clarity through intentional word separation.

The use of alphabet supplementation has shown an average improvement of 25% in sentence intelligibility. Similarly, indicating a topic before speaking helps narrow down possibilities for the listener, providing essential context and enhancing word understanding by an average of 28%. Individuals with aphasia can also utilize topics to better convey their intended message.

The app includes adjustable settings catering to visual, physical, language, and cognitive impairments. It is compatible with built-in scanning techniques and guided access features. Additionally, users have the option to choose from four color schemes and select which board appears upon launching the app. Furthermore, any customized board can be exported for printing or sharing.

For more information on how to utilize this app effectively, access the supporting evidence for this form of AAC, and explore a detailed account of the app's development process, please visit tactustherapy.com.