FONE for speech therapists and health professionals

Who this page is for

This page is for speech therapists, occupational therapists, neurologists and patient associations. You are often the person a family asks first, when speech or hand movement becomes difficult and they are looking for a practical way to keep understanding each other at home.

We are not asking you to prescribe a device from a website. We describe what FONE is, where it sits beside augmentative and alternative communication, and how you can arrange a demonstration for a person you support, for a member of an association, or for your team. The judgement of whether it fits stays with you, together with the family.

What augmentative and alternative communication is

Augmentative and alternative communication, often called AAC, is any way a person expresses themselves when speech is not enough. It might be a yes and a no with the eyes, a board of pictures, written text, or a device that speaks what was written. It is alternative when it stands in for speech. It is augmentative when it supports speech that is still there, but does not always come out clearly or quickly enough.

The aim is not to replace the person with a machine. It is to let out something they already want to say: a need, a refusal, a question, a conversation with their child. The family and the therapist know the content. The device, when it fits, changes the channel.

FONE is a portable communication device, an aid for augmentative and alternative communication. It lets people who find it hard to speak or to move communicate with their eyes or by touch. It is a technology communication aid and it is not a certified medical device. It is not intended for diagnosis or treatment. The conversation with the speech therapist or the doctor remains necessary when deciding which aid fits.

How FONE sits in your work

At the demonstration and at installation you see a device with a clear screen, designed in Greece, with a natural Greek and English voice. The person writes by looking at the screen or by touching it. Word prediction suggests words and phrases. There are ready-made phrases and categories, and phrases can be adapted to what that particular family says.

The SOS alert makes a sound from the device and sends a message to the caregiver. It does not replace human supervision or the emergency services. Telegram lets someone send and read messages. AI Companion is a digital helper for conversation and everyday questions. There are also card games.

The basic communication features work without an internet connection. Telegram, AI Companion and updates need a connection. New capabilities arrive wirelessly, and we show how to use the device at installation. The subscription covers updates and support. The basic function of the device stays active without it.

For people with ALS or motor neurone disease, FONE is communication with the eyes or by touch, which can follow as needs change. After a stroke, it is an alternative way to communicate when speech is difficult. We stay with that way of communicating and we do not describe an effect on speech itself.

What you see at the demonstration

The demonstration takes place at the person’s home, with no charge and no obligation. It starts with an introduction: what the person needs and how they communicate today. Then there is a short gaze setup. The person tries writing with their eyes or by touch and hears the voice. We show word prediction, SOS and Telegram messages. At the end there is time for questions about price, the subscription and support.

It helps if the person is there, with a family member or the caregiver, and you if you can. We recommend it. We can arrange a time that also suits the therapist. We follow the person’s pace and tiredness. If needed, we take breaks. If they are more comfortable in bed, the try happens there.

We do not ask for a decision the same day. The family thinks it over in their own time. If they go ahead, we explain the price, €2.500 + VAT for the FONE LIFE package and €180 / year, and we arrange delivery and setup at home. We bring the device, set it up for the person, and show the family how to use it. Support afterwards is in Greek, by phone and remotely.

How to arrange a demonstration

Fill in the free-demonstration form and write in the message that you are a speech therapist, occupational therapist, neurologist, or that you represent a patient association. Say who the demonstration is for, or whether you want your team to see it. If you prefer the phone, call 211 12 12 235.

For the area, contact us. We do not publish a list of areas, because the appointment is set after we speak. We will contact you to find a day and a time. There is no cost for the demonstration and no obligation to buy.

See also

• ALS and MND
• Eye tracking
• Questions