Speaking in tongues - the real deal

I have just come across some more amazing new technology that has the capacity to completely change the life of a person unable to speak. Let's use cerebral palsy as an example of a specific disability that in many cases has this very issue. I have spent a number of years in my 20's working as an aid for people with cerebral palsy. The greatest shame to me was not the disability of the person with cerebral palsy but the disability of the carers to understand them. Given time shared with a specific individual it is amazing how much non-verbal communication you can share however the barrier still remains. Particularly with the pace of communicating an idea.

When I was working in London I was assisting a man my own age with driving his car to music college and also with lunch and bathroom visits. Much like the film 'My Left Foot' that famously portrays the life of Christy Brown, my client also had full control of his left foot and did his composing with a tab on the end of his shoe. He also used the electronic speaking device im sure we have all seen used by the like of Stephen Hawking. Once I got to know my client better I was able to pick up his body language and this meant that communication became quicker and with less fumbling for the point. One of the ways he would maintain control over his destiny was to take me a different route every day, so that I would be forced to rely on his directions whilst we were driving. Many a morning I would be driving through the maze of inner London, watching for other cars and pedestrians while at the same time looking in the rear view mirror at my client pointing directions with his head when he wasnt quick enough to type them out. On a number of occasions he would be calling for my attention frantically only to discover that he wanted me to check out some hot lady walking down the street. He was a horny little devil.

It was always a challenge working with anyone with limitations of verbal communication. I doubt we can truly appreciate what it is like not to be heard. Let alone be able to do simple tasks on our own like turn on a light or change a channel. 

Which brings us to a recent article on theage which can be found here. It is essentially some new technology which works on using the tongue as a means of controlling a mechanism which once perfected will aid people in speech and other tasks. The reasoning for the tongue being the controller is that it is connected to the brain rather than the spinal column. In the cases of people with quadriplegia this would be a vital new technology. I am less certain that it will work for all people with cerebral palsy as the tongue movement for some people may be involuntary. In these cases using the eyes and facial expressions would be more useful. Below is an amazing talk on this very thing. Watch this guy perform a self composed piece of music live with just his face and head movements. 

So next time you are thinking of handing over some money to somebody, consider helping researchers like this who are trying to make a real difference to a very silent minority.