AAC Devices for Primary Progressive Aphasia

Marp

Anyone have experience with an AAC device for an Alz patient with Primary Progressive Aphasia?  I'm particularly interested in Lingraphica vs Tobii Dynavox.

My sister's neurologist wants her to see a certain speech therapist.  Unfortunately, my sister gets her health care through the VA and the VA is insistent she use the speech therapist at the VA near us.  If we see the other speech therapist, the VA won't pay for anything.

The speech therapist that the neuro wants us to see uses  Lingraphica devices.

The VA speech therapist usually use Tobii Dynavox devices, but she is open to considering Lingraphica.  She used Lingraphica once years ago when a patient transferred to her from another therapist; she didn't think the Lingraphica device the patient had was very user friendly, but she's willing to take another look. 

I want to get what's best for my sister, but it's so difficult to know.  Lingraphica does offer free trials of the devices so maybe we try that...I don't know.

harshedbuzz

Marp-

That's a difficult call. 

On one hand, I'd be inclined to see the SLP to whom the neuro referred you as this person likely has a deep expertise in ACC and patients with conditions like your sister. Plus the SLP and neuro likely work well together which is a big plus. The VA SLP is more likely to be more of a generalist.

It's hard to speak to the superiority of one device over another as the technology is updated routinely meaning the SLP's experience with the one client make by irrelevant-- or not. It's hard to say. 

Can your sister afford the out-of-pocket expense? In addition to the free trial, often these sorts of things can be bought used at a fraction of their original price. The other thought is, if your sister will be headed toward a facility down the line and will eventually be using Medicaid as a safety net, paying out-of-pocket for the SLP and device might be a better use of her assets than a month in a MCF in the future. 

HB

Marp

Thank you for the response.  I had appointments all set up to see the SLP the neuro recommended then I found out the VA wouldn't pay if my sister goes there because the VA has a speech therapist.  

Since the VA therapist is willing to try the Lingraphica device, I'm thinking of asking for a free trial of that device to start.  My sister becomes Medicare eligible in July; we could potentially switch to the SLP the neuro recommended then.  We'd have to choose a Medicare plan the neuro participates with, but I think we can do that (I have an appointment in about 10 days to take care of the Medicare).

Or I can hang tight until July and see the SLP the neuro recommended then.

harshedbuzz wrote:

Marp-

That's a difficult call. 

On one hand, I'd be inclined to see the SLP to whom the neuro referred you as this person likely has a deep expertise in ACC and patients with conditions like your sister. Plus the SLP and neuro likely work well together which is a big plus. The VA SLP is more likely to be more of a generalist.

It's hard to speak to the superiority of one device over another as the technology is updated routinely meaning the SLP's experience with the one client make by irrelevant-- or not. It's hard to say. 

Can your sister afford the out-of-pocket expense? In addition to the free trial, often these sorts of things can be bought used at a fraction of their original price. The other thought is, if your sister will be headed toward a facility down the line and will eventually be using Medicaid as a safety net, paying out-of-pocket for the SLP and device might be a better use of her assets than a month in a MCF in the future. 

HB