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Advances in technology allow ALS patients to communicate

by Lori Tipton
Tuesday, May 12, 2009

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Most people with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, lose their ability to move and speak.

It's a disease that eats away at the central nervous system, leaving patients unable to get around or communicate even though their brain is perfectly healthy.

But new computers are helping ALS patients say and do what they no longer can on their own.

Five years ago doctors diagnosed Patricia Banks with ALS.

"When she was first diagnosed, she would mispronounce words and she'd start slurring her words, she had slurred speech," Patricia's husband Henry said.

Patricia learned how to control and slow down her speech so that Henry could better understand her.

"Not being able to speak to someone is very frustrating, and you get really stressed out and stuff because everybody has to communicate," Henry said.

Patricia sometimes uses an augmented communication device to speak, but it's a few years old and considered out of date.

The couple recently met with a consultant from DynaVox, which makes the types of devices used to help people with speech problems, to look at the latest technology for patients like Patricia.

"It kind of re-opens up their ability to feel like they're able to communicate again," the consultant, Tina Dowd-Anderson said.

Patricia currently uses one of her hands to type out messages, but she will eventually lose that ability because of the disease.

However, that won't stop her from being able to use a communication device.

With a machine called the EyeMax, Patricia's eyes can control what it says -- all she has to do is blink.

"So the new technology makes it a lot easier to relieve the stress level that Patricia has from time to time," Henry said.

"It's pretty powerful -- I think in terms of life-changing," Dowd-Anderson said.

Powerful, new technology to give patients with disabilities the power to speak.

Contact Lori Tipton at ltipton@ktuu.com