Living with Cerebral Palsy

For those of you who have trouble typing and get poor results from voice activation software, a reader suggested this free program that he uses:

Unfortunately I am no longer able to type due to a marked increase in my spasticity. I now use the Click-N-Type on-screen keyboard. Just like the Windows 7 on-screen keyboard this one attempts to predict the word one is typing. Unlike the Windows 7 on-screen keyboard, this one works under Windows XP as well. There are a lot of words missing from its list of words, and a lot of the words should not be in the list. However it is easy to add and remove words from its list of words. Best of all, the program is FREE! You can download it at: http://CNT.LakeFolks.com

A request for help was sent to me this evening:

I am a speech teacher and I work with two students who are in the 8th grade and have CP. I installed Dragon on Student 1 laptop and this student is succesfully using the software. Student 2 has speech that presents as more dysarthric. Articulator placement is less precise. Dragon will not read Student 2′s speech. We trained it a word at a time. I typed it in the training component and Student 2 spoke. This will take a long time and I would put in the time but it is still on 25% accurate. Is there other software, hardware out there. Any strategies to suggest to help student 2. Student 2 is extremely smart. Thanks

I am very sorry to say that I don’t have the answer. The best voice activation software that I know about is Dragon Naturally Speaking. They have a new version out that is supposed to be even more accurate than the others.

If you click on the picture, it will take you directly to Amazon.com, where it is about $40 cheaper, and you can read more about it.

If any of you have something that works better, please comment on this blog and let Katie know. Thank you!

As so we may already know, I work at home by freelancing. I write material for article marketing, websites, blogs, and more. Yesterday, I wrote a blog for my worksite about using voice activation software to make freelance writing a little bit easier. It also might help avoid problems like carpal tunnel syndrome. Then, I got a bright idea! If I use voice activation software to save my hands and to speed up my typing, why not tell you about this great tool for sending e-mails, typing letters, or even surfing the Web.

Many of us are limited to one hand already. Some of us can use both hands, but it is slow going. We will never be a 60 wpm typist. So, why not use voice activation software, if you are living with CP?

Easy to Use Program

Okay. Here I am. This is not a comeliest picture I have ever taken. But, you can see what I look like as I am dictating this blog. All you need is a headset plugged into your computer.

At first, the software can be frustrating, because you have to train it to recognize your speech patterns. The software does not care if you have a speech impediment due to cerebral palsy. Once it learns how you pronounce words, when you say them that is what the program will type. The more you use the software, the more accurate it becomes.

When I am tired and know I still have a lot of typing to do, I can let the voice activation software take over. It can type faster than I can.

A Few Little Extras

Not only can the software type or you, it can also help you surf the Internet. When you purchase the program, it comes with an instruction book full of commands. You can basically do anything on the computer that your hands do. You are simply using your voice instead.

If You are Interested

If you are interested in checking out Dragon Naturally Speaking, simple click here:

Sometimes, Nuane has deals. The basic software I purchased a few months ago, when I got a new computer with a different operating system, was around $50.

For me, the price is worth it, especially when my hands and wrists get tired. If you decide to give it a try, you will have to tell me what you think. If you have it already, tell us how it works for you, and if you like it or not.