On the Use of Kana-Typewriter for Dysarthric Patients

Abstract

A portable electromotive Kana-typewriter was developed as a communication method for dysarthric patients. As the size of this machine is 215×90×30mm, it is easy to carry in the pocket or bag. This machine has 50 keys (Kana-letters) with a thermal print system. Using this typewriter, the dysarthric patients who had almost no speech output and showed only a gesture of“yes”or“no”reaction, could express their ideas correctly and communicate actively with other people. It was believed that the device was very helpful for the dysarthric patients. But the effectiveness of this machine was greatly dependent on their intelligences, vocations and their motivations and so on. Other technical problems are the sharpness of the printed letters and the size of the apparatus to be carried more conveniently. By improving these technical points, utility of this Kana-typewriter will be multiplied and it will be useful as an aid of communication for severe dysarthric patients.