“Kara Lynn has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or A.L.S., which has attacked the muscles around her mouth and throat, removing her ability to speak. A couple of years ago, she spent more than $8,000 to buy a computer, approved by Medicare, that turns typed words into speech that her family, friends and doctors can hear…
Still, advocates argue, advances in computing and easy-to use speech software have opened doors to use cheap mainstream alternatives. Indeed, the price drops have made it possible for A.L.S. assistance groups to buy dozens of netbooks, install specialized software like Proloquo2Go and lend them to clients.”
The top selling iPhone medical app of 2009
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Saturday, December 12, 2009
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2 comments:
The more that mainstream technology can assist PALS the better!
My experience was that DME dealers that catered to people with ALS were expensive and liked to sell what they had in inventory rather than what was best for the particular patient. Breaking down that ineffective layer in the healthcare business model will lead to better technology reaching more people more affordably. This is a simple step toward healthcare reform.
Some DME dealers won't like it, but in every step of healthcare reform, somebody in the old model who is being cut out of the new model won't be happy.
My 2 cents (which would be 4 cents if supplied by a DME dealer who would offer handle the Medicare and insurance paperwork).
I have one of those $8000 speaking machines and it is heavy and requires a heavy duty system to attach it to my powerchair.
I found a $250 netbook and an iPod speaker velcroed to the top, with free text to speech software (Etriloquist) and I am in business with a light weight system. I did find I needed a more robust battery for the netbook and found one that gives me over 5 hours of use. I seldom stay awake for periods exceeding 5 hours these days.
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