Tag Archives: iOS AAC apps

Comparison of USA English Child Voices in iOS AAC Apps

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After I posted about the new Almagu voices in the LAMP Words for Life and the TouchChat with WordPower AAC apps, I received a few comments that some folks felt these new voices were quieter than what they were currently using.

That wasn’t my first impression of the voices so being the tech geeky SLP that I am I decided to do my own comparison experiment.

Of course I don’t have a soundproof booth and a real decibel meter but I kept the parameters equal when comparing these voices.

Test phrase: “This is a test of loudness with the Decibel 10 app”

Devices:

* iPad 8th gen at full volume measured in a quiet room in my home

* iPhone 11 at the same distance for each test using the Decibel X app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/decibel-x-db-sound-level-meter/id448155923

I only tested child voices in USA English since that is my native language and the age of voices that I used the most with patients.

TouchChat with WordPower

Almagu:

• Kessie: 72dB

• Lisa: 72dB

• Noah: 73dB

• Sophia: 72dB

Acapela:

• Kenny: 72dB

• Nelly: 73dB

LAMP Words for Life:

Almagu:

• Kessie: 72dB

• Lisa: 73dB

• Noah: 72dB

• Sophia: 73dB

Ivona:

• Justin: 71dB

• Ivy: 70dB

Proloquo2Go:

High Quality Acapela:

• Ella: 74dB

• Josh: 73dB

Speak for Yourself:

CereProc:

• Jordan: 74dB

• Andy: 74dB

Grid for iPad:

Nuance:

• Joelle: 74dB

• Noelle: 74dB

Grid for iPad also has the USA English child voices from Acapela & CereProc. The results were the same as seen above.

Results:

* All of the voices that I tested were very similar in loudness.

* I did note some slightly odd intonation in the Almagu voices. In particular the vowels were a little off and how smoothly an utterance was spoken wasn’t quite as good as the Josh & Ella voices, the Joelle & Noelle voices and the Jordan & Andy voices. But this could be influenced by how many years I have had experience listening to those vs. these brand new Almagu voices. What’s interesting is when I played the same phrases in the Almagu voices on the TouchChat and LAMP WFL websites the quality was better there compared to what I heard in the apps. *** Updated 2/13/22: The intonation in the Almagu voices has improved with the 2.35.0 update in both LAMP Words for Life and TouchChat with WordPower ***

It’s exciting to have new diverse child, teen, adult and elder voice options!

The release notes for the 2.34 app updates for LAMP WFL & TouchChat both indicated that the Almagu Spanish voices are coming soon: https://www.prc-saltillo.com/articles/app-enhancements-including-new-inclusive-voices?mode=view

Updated 10/20/22: Apple finally made iOS voices for kids. See this blog post about the Joelle & Noelle voices in iOS 16: https://omazingkidsllc.com/2022/10/20/new-ios-16-child-voices-joelle-noelle-usa-english/.

New voices have been added in several AAC apps over the past year. See the feature matching charts for the most up to date info.

Have a question? The best way to reach me is via Facebook messaging over on my OMazing Kids page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/.

Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC, OMazing Kids AAC Consulting

TD Snap: a visual guide to getting started (updated 3/21/23) – now includes AAC flipbook

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TD Snap: a visual guide to getting started is now available for purchase on my OMazing Kids AAC Consulting TPT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/TD-Snap-a-visual-guide-to-getting-started-7445593.

This resource has a 78 page PDF, access to a 35 minute unlisted YouTube video.

There is one topic per page with visuals.

This guide walks you through the initial set up and customization process for the TD Snap AAC app with a focus on the Core First pageset being used via direct access touch with a finger by kids, teens or young adults on an iPad. It has all kinds of information to get you going, ideas to foster ownership, the different versions of the app and types of pagesets, information about choosing a grid size, how to set it up, how to edit, ideas for customization, time stamped links to specific sections within helpful webinars, finding user groups, manuals and other resources, info about how SLPs can get free access and more… See the description on TPT for more info.

TPT Preview Video:

Updated 3/21/23: It’s now a 86 page PDF & 48 minute video. Includes info about the new Motor Plan pagesets & bonus content (a 10 page AAC flipbook designed for Gestalt Language Processors in Stage 1 – Stage 2 of the Natural Language Acquisition (NLA) process.

Have a question? The best way to reach me is via Facebook messaging on my OMazing Kids page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/

Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC, OMazing Kids AAC Consulting

TD Snap AAC App: Snap Core First Pageset Customizations

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Examples of several customizations that I made in the Core First Pageset within the TD Snap AAC app (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/td-snap-aac/id1257753762)

Video:

Have a question? The best way to reach me is via Facebook messaging on my OMazing Kids page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/

Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC, OMazing Kids AAC Consulting

I’m on the Innovative AAC Solutions Podcast – AAC features, feature matching and fostering ownership of AAC (Season 2, episode 5)

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It was so much fun chatting about AAC features, feature matching and fostering ownership of AAC with Laura Hayes at Innovative AAC Solutions. Check it out in Season 2; Episode 5 of the Innovative AAC Solutions podcast: https://sites.google.com/ssdmo.org/aac-site/check-it-out/ssd-aac-podcast?authuser=0

The podcast video is available there on their site or out on YouTube where it has time stamped sections and links to the resources (if viewing on a computer or the YouTube app… I have YouTube on my Roku TV and can’t see those type of details there): https://youtu.be/v4-xspAS9m4

My segment of the podcast can also be viewed on my YouTube channel with time stamped sections:

07:35 – Feature Matching
25:54 – Fostering Ownership in AAC

Here is the Fostering AAC Ownership + AAC tags resource that I mentioned: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fostering-AAC-Ownership-AAC-tags-6990346

And in an audio-only format:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J613VYYtiHgs_bb6Q4lujEVASnzP2FoM/view

Check out the episode notes for links to resources.

The pizza activity looks like a lot of fun! If you want more things to go with that theme, see this post here on my blog: https://omazingkidsllc.com/2011/07/28/pete’s-a-pizza-party-–-an-omazing-kids-yoga-lesson-plan-based-on-the-story-“pete’s-a-pizza”-by-william-steig/

Update 7/19/22: It is also on their school system’s YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/haGHc5jMlt0?t=524

Be sure to follow both of them on social media:

• Laura Hayes: https://instagram.com/aac_innovations

• Cheryl Livingston: https://instagram.com/cheryllivingstonaacsupport

Cheryl also has a group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/933873107089870

Here’s the link to the Feature Matching Chart for the Top 11 Robust iOS Symbol-Based AAC Apps: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Feature-Matching-Chart-for-the-Top-11-Robust-iOS-Symbol-Based-AAC-Apps-6867853

Have a question? The best way to reach me is via Facebook messaging over on my OMazing Kids page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/

Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC, OMazing Kids AAC Consulting

Teachers Pay Teachers Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Omazing-Kids-Aac-Consulting

YouTube: https://youtube.com/user/amoorad1

Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/omazingkidsaac

OMazing Kids AAC Consulting Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/

AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/

GoTalk Now AAC App – Ideas and Sharing Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/GoTalkNowAACappGroup

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omazingkidsaac

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/amoorad

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/amoorad1

Updated AAC Feature Matching Chart (10-18-21)…. now mentions features in these apps that may be helpful as folks are exploring ways to modify AAC for Gestalt Language Processors

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I don’t typically release an update for the AAC Feature Matching Chart more than once a month but there were a couple of links that needed to be fixed. I also expanded the info related to how SLPs & SLTs can get access to the LAMP Words for Life app. That particular app is distributed differently in countries outside of the USA and Canada. Links to the Liberator websites have been added. I also put a designation on rows for features that may be helpful as folks are exploring ways to modify AAC for Gestalt Language Processors. I’ve also added links to social media groups and pages related to those discussions.

The most update has been uploaded to TPT: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Feature-Matching-Chart-for-the-Top-11-Robust-iOS-Symbol-Based-AAC-Apps-6867853

Ko-fi subscribers can get the update at: https://ko-fi.com/post/AAC-Feature-Matching-Chart-update-10-18-21-B0B06N0DB

Note: Ko-fi subscribers need to make sure you go out to a full browser after tapping on a link that I shared on Facebook or other social media. See this short video:

The free handout about how SLPs and SLTs can get access to these apps has also been updated on TPT: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/How-to-Get-Access-to-the-Top-11-iOS-Symbol-Based-AAC-Apps-TPT-Freebie-6869004

Have a question? The best way to reach me is via Facebook messaging over on my OMazing Kids page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/

Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC, OMazing Kids AAC Consulting

Teachers Pay Teachers Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Omazing-Kids-Aac-Consulting

YouTube: https://youtube.com/user/amoorad1

Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/omazingkidsaac

OMazing Kids AAC Consulting Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/

AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/

GoTalk Now AAC App – Ideas and Sharing Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/GoTalkNowAACappGroup

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omazingkidsaac

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/amoorad

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/amoorad1

How to find the Online Gallery in the GoTalk Now or GoTalk Now Plus AAC apps

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How to find the Online Gallery in the GoTalk Now or GoTalk Now Plus AAC apps

This is a screencast video showing how to find the Online Gallery in the GoTalk Now or GoTalk Now Plus AAC apps. This isn’t available when using the free Lite version or their Starter version of the app.

Join the GoTalk Now AAC App – Ideas and Sharing Facebook group: https://bit.ly/GoTalkNowAACappGroup

Have a question? The best way to reach me is via Facebook messaging over on my OMazing Kids page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/

Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC, OMazing Kids AAC Consulting

Teachers Pay Teachers Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Omazing-Kids-Aac-Consulting

YouTube: https://youtube.com/user/amoorad1

Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/omazingkidsaac

OMazing Kids AAC Consulting Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/

AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/

GoTalk Now AAC App – Ideas and Sharing Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/GoTalkNowAACappGroup

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omazingkidsaac

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/amoorad

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/amoorad1

Updated Feature Matching Chart for the Top 11 iOS Symbol-Based AAC Apps (10-12-21)

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See this post for the newest update. A 12th app has been added: https://omazingkidsllc.com/2022/01/29/updated-expanded-feature-matching-chart-for-the-top-12-robust-ios-symbol-based-aac-apps/

Updated Feature Matching Chart for the Top 11 Robust iOS Symbol-Based AAC Apps.

This month’s update has been uploaded onto my TPT store on 10/12/21: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Feature-Matching-Chart-for-the-Top-11-Robust-iOS-Symbol-Based-AAC-Apps-6867853.

Ko-fi subscribers can access it on this post: https://ko-fi.com/post/Feature-Matching-Chart-update-101221-N4N16KF0K

Have a question? The best way to reach me is via Facebook messaging over on my OMazing Kids page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/

Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC, OMazing Kids AAC Consulting

Teachers Pay Teachers Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Omazing-Kids-Aac-Consulting

YouTube: https://youtube.com/user/amoorad1

Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/omazingkidsaac

OMazing Kids AAC Consulting Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/

AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/

GoTalk Now AAC App – Ideas and Sharing Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/GoTalkNowAACappGroup

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omazingkidsaac

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/amoorad

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/amoorad1

Reminder: GoTalk Now $10 app sale on 10/10/21

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Reminder: The GoTalk Now app $10 sale is on Sunday, 10/10/21. Attainment Company, Inc. commented on this post on their Facebook page that the sale timeframe is based on the Central Time Zone.

I’m in that time zone and have noticed that prices often change at 10:00pm. You don’t want to miss this sale so be sure to purchase early in the day.

  • The sale only includes GoTalk Now (not the Plus version, not any in-app purchases, not any other apps) since they are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the original GoTalk Now app
  • The sale will be available worldwide (in every country that has an Apple App Store and has this app available)
  • The sale will also be available through the Apple VPP / Apple School Manager Program
  • GoTalk Now is an iPad-only app so you won’t find it if searching the App Store from an iPhone. Here’s the link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gotalk-now/id454176457

Join the GoTalk Now AAC App – Ideas and Sharing Facebook group: https://bit.ly/GoTalkNowAACappGroup

Brand new to the GoTalk Now AAC app? Here’s a video with the first things to do after installing the app:

Have a question? The best way to reach me is via Facebook messaging over on my OMazing Kids page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/

Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC, OMazing Kids AAC Consulting

Teachers Pay Teachers Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Omazing-Kids-Aac-Consulting

YouTube: https://youtube.com/user/amoorad1

Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/omazingkidsaac

OMazing Kids AAC Consulting Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/

AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/

GoTalk Now AAC App – Ideas and Sharing Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/GoTalkNowAACappGroup

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omazingkidsaac

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/amoorad

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/amoorad1

Don’t Let Perfect Be the Enemy of Good … jump on in and start AAC

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AAC is as much an art as a science. There’s lots of trial and error. Lots of tweaking or combining things to meet unique needs. And user’s needs change over time. There’s no one “best” or “one size fits all” system, app or device. So it’s important to just dive in and start somewhere. Don’t let “perfect” be the enemy of good. It’s better to get something done imperfectly than to do nothing perfectly.

I love seeing videos and pictures of how others have customized AAC to meet unique needs. I think that’s why I’m active in so many different AAC related groups on Facebook. Those examples get my creativity flowing.

I don’t recall a time that I ever just used an AAC app or SGD just “as is”. I always personalized it.

I love to tinker with things and come up with creative solutions. I can tell you based on over 30 years of experience as an AAC SLP, there is no one “best”, “right” or “one size fits all” way. Not even for users with the same diagnoses. There are too many variables and above all the individual preferences of that user and their family.

Some older teens and young adults preferred to use more than one option and the freedom to pick what worked for them in that moment.

I also mash together options like using keyboard extension apps within AAC apps that allow access to those. That opens up a whole world of possibilities for adapted keyboards, calculator keyboards, whiteboard keyboards where the user can draw to communicate, etc.

Want to learn more about the features in AAC apps in order to know what the possibilities might be? Check out the Feature Matching Chart for the Top 11 robust iOS symbol-based AAC apps:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Feature-Matching-Chart-for-the-Top-11-Robust-iOS-Symbol-Based-AAC-Apps-6867853

Have a question? The best way to reach me is via Facebook messaging over on my OMazing Kids page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/

Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC, OMazing Kids AAC Consulting

Teachers Pay Teachers Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Omazing-Kids-Aac-Consulting

YouTube: https://youtube.com/user/amoorad1

Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/omazingkidsaac

OMazing Kids AAC Consulting Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/

AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/

GoTalk Now AAC App – Ideas and Sharing Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/GoTalkNowAACappGroup

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omazingkidsaac

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/amoorad

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/amoorad1

Updated AAC Feature Matching Chart (9-7-21)

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Updated Feature Matching Chart for the Top 11 iOS Symbol-Based AAC Apps

Did you know that Coughdrop has a cool new “Focus Words” feature? Focus Words offers a quick way to highlight a list of targeted words while dimming the rest of the buttons slightly (but all of the buttons are still active).

Want to stay up to date on all the newest features in the most commonly used AAC apps?

Check out this month’s update for the Feature Matching Chart for the Top 11 iOS Symbol-Based AAC Apps. The update has been uploaded onto my TPT store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Feature-Matching-Chart-for-the-Top-11-Robust-iOS-Symbol-Based-AAC-Apps-6867853.

Ko-fi subscribers can access it on this post: https://ko-fi.com/post/Updated-Feature-Matching-Chart-9721-H2H564ELO

Have questions? The best way to reach me with any questions is via messaging on the OMazing Kids Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/. That way messages don’t get lost among the spam in my e-mail.

Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC, OMazing Kids AAC Consulting

Teachers Pay Teachers Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Omazing-Kids-Aac-Consulting

YouTube: https://youtube.com/user/amoorad1

Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/omazingkidsaac

OMazing Kids AAC Consulting Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/

AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omazingkidsaac

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/amoorad

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/amoorad1