Electronic spelling aid for use in speech therapy.

Abstract

A device was produced to assist in the treatment of aphasia. The effects of this disorder, generally caused by damage to brain tissue, are well documented, and are usually considered to be an inability to construct words, or sentences from their component letters, both in spoken or written languages. It was considered that an electronic spelling device offering a minimal ‘reward’ at each stage would perhaps assist in the treatment of such patients in general and children in particular. Accordingly it was decided to use a system in which the word was illuminated letter by letter as the patient operated a keyboard, on which switches were arranged in alphabetical order. On the successful completion of the spelling, it was arranged that a picture illustrating the word would be illuminated.