This article briefly describes sensory aids for individuals with hearing impairments, such as the visible speech translator, the cochlear implant, and the digital hearing aid, and identifies common trends. The article stresses factors affecting the development of sensory aids in the past and how these factors are likely to influence the future.…

The intelligibility of two voice-output communication aids ("Personal Communicator" and "SpeechPAC'") was evaluated by presenting synthesized words and sentences to 20 listeners. Analysis of listener transcriptions revealed significantly higher intelligibility scores for the "Personal Communicator" compared to the…

The use of continuous discourse tracking to evaluate sensory prostheses for the hearing impaired was assessed in terms of the strategies used by the talker and responses elicited from the listener. Listeners showed small but significant differences in response patterns. Much larger differences were observed in the pattern of correction strategies…

The use of a manual vibrator to supplement the traditional speech therapy program for four moderately mentally retarded six- and seven-year-old children attending a special education class is discussed. (Author/SEW)