Speech Pathology Toolkit app for iPhone and iPad

Speech Pathology Toolkit is a double award winning (Most Innovative App 2012 - The Appster Awards, Best Mobile Application 2012 - Media Innovation Awards) multi-function app for speech pathologists and therapists. It has been developed by two SLTs, both with over 10 years experience working with adults with communication and swallowing disorders in the UK. Speech Pathology Toolkit brings together 6 essential pieces of SLP/T equipment at an affordable price.

1.Easy AAF provides altered auditory feedback (AAF) which can be useful for increasing fluency in people with stammers or festinant speech from Parkinson’s Disease. Speech is played back with either a delay (DAF) and/or a shift in frequency (FSF). It can be used with Apple Headphones and Mic or a Bluetooth headset (on iPhone) making use socially acceptable.

DAF can be set between 20ms (milliseconds) and 250ms and FSF can be altered +/- 1 octave. Therapists can make recordings of speech while Easy AAF is used to check suitability of the device.

2. Sound Level Meter allows the SLP/T to measure volume during assessment and therapy activities. Measurements are taken in decibels and can be reviewed on the Statistics page. Samples are also recorded allowing analysis and transcription after taking sound level readings.

The sound reading is displayed "on line" allowing the device to be used as biofeedback during therapy sessions working on volume. It is not designed for use as an industrial sound level meter or for health and safety purposes.

3. Speech Amplifier uses the device to provide amplification for voices. External speakers using a 3.5mm jack are required for this. For further details on this please contact us.

4. Type2Speak is a text to speech app. You can save phrases and access them via a library. In the library pressing the "Aa" button will automatically paste the selected phrase into the speech window on the main page. By using the "edit" function in the library, you can delete or re-order saved phrases to personalise the app. Re-ordering is simple. Each phrase has a button represented by three horizontal lines on the right hand side of the edit page. To move a selected phrase up or down the list, simply press and hold the button and drag the phrase to the required position.

If there is an active internet connection, a higher quality voice will be synthesised. This can be configured in your devices settings menu.

If increased volume is required, any external speaker that uses a 3.5mm jack could be used. On iPad Bluetooth keyboards can be used where users require an alternative to the on-screen keyboard.

5.Swallow Now enables people who are having difficulty with management of their saliva to receive an external prompt to swallow.

Swallow Now can be set to vibrate, emit a tone via the external speaker or emit a tone via a Bluetooth headset or headphones to maximise social acceptability (Bluetooth and vibrate use is only possible on iPhone). This can be set to take place between five seconds and three minutes. Auto-lock should be set to "never" when using Swallow Now.

6. Digital Recorder allows the SLP/T to record audio files. Files are saved chronologically and are named by date and time. Recordings from Easy AAF and Sound Level Meter are stored in the Files section of the recorder.
Files can be reviewed for transcription purposes or giving feedback to a service user. If you need to transfer files to computer systems you can do this via your iTunes account page. We recommend that you check with your local information governance protocols to ensure you do not risk patient confidentiality.

If you have any queries or feedback we’d love to hear from you and you can contact us via email ([email protected]), or check www.speechlanguagesolutions.co.uk for further information.

Audio engine : FMOD Sound System by Firelight Technologies