Developmental delays are defined by not reaching important milestones in development, according to an expected time frame, such as speech or movement. These issues can be short lived or can extend well into adulthood. While children with development delays can still be successful, they do require additional help both at school and at home. Studies have shown that speech aids for the disabled and other assistive technology can help bolster a child’s education and encourage academic success.

As a communication disability charity, it is not uncommon for us to support those with long-term developmental delays through the provision of communication equipment and assistive technology suited to their needs. A recent study has brought to light the most effective devices for helping those with developmental delays to succeed academically.

Audiobooks

Many students with this diagnosis fall behind in literacy and reading but there are tools available to teachers to make reading more accessible to them. Audiobooks are frequently recommended by professionals as an alternative to traditional reading and for younger children the AbleNet Bookworm can be used to transform any book into an audiobook.

Text-to-Speech Software

One of the primary areas affected by developmental delays (and the one we are most akin at dealing with) is speech, or lack thereof. Those with these conditions often need help communicating both in and out of the classroom. In order to ask questions or express their needs at school, a text-to-speech software could help students to gain control of what they need to say. Using these programs, they can type out what they want to share while the computer or tablet reads it out loud for them

FM Systems

The classroom can be a noisy place with pens scribbling, teachers chanting and kids chattering, those with developmental delays can struggle to process all this noise. FM systems can mitigate this issue, allowing the student to hear the teacher more clearly and block some of the background noises. They allow the teacher and student to connect using radio broadcast technology, the teacher holds a microphone while the individual holds a receiver.