Alphabet Board

A low-technology communication tool displaying letters of the alphabet that enables people who cannot speak to spell out words and messages by pointing to, gazing at, or otherwise indicating individual letters. Alphabet boards are among the simplest and most widely used AAC devices, requiring no power source or technical setup. They are commonly used in medical settings with intubated or ventilated patients, and by people with conditions affecting speech such as ALS, cerebral palsy, or stroke. While highly reliable, alphabet boards are slow for extended communication and require the user to have sufficient literacy, motor control, and cognitive ability to spell words.