AAC device

[Anonymous]

It took many months, but our child was finally found eligible for an AAC device to help with their speech delays. We got it about two weeks ago and they are still learning to use it. But then we got a bill for $1000. Apparently insurance won’t cover the cost of the device, even after months of back and forth during which I thought we had gotten it approved. We didn’t qualify for a waiver, but though we can technically cover the cost, this is not an insignificant expense for us. With two kids in daycare, money is tight for us right now. We are thinking of returning the device and just installing the app on the iPad we already have, which would be much cheaper but potentially not work as well. Anyone been there, done that? Feeling demoralized because I thought we had finally found a solution to the speech problem and now we’ve hit another bump in the road.

[Anonymous]

If you decide to use an ipad, I recommend buying a new one (which costs far less than $1000!) and locking it into guided access so that it's a device only for communication, not games/videos.

[Anonymous]

I would get an ipad mini and put learning apps on it. It also depends on if your child has just a speech delay and if yes, I'm surprised they'd recommend it or something more serious where they will always struggle to talk.

[Anonymous]

OP here: The speech delay is part of a larger diagnosis, and they will likely always struggle to speak. At almost 4 they are mostly nonverbal and communicate primarily using ASL. That works fine at home, but makes it tough for them to communicate with people who don’t sign. Hence the AAC.

We are looking for something to be strictly a communication device.

Basically just wondering whether it is worth shelling out for the fancy device that the company sent, which is basically just an iPad with an app, or whether to DIY one myself. Wish I’d known this a week ago when I might have gotten a Black Friday deal on a new iPad, but it is what it is.

[Anonymous]

As far as I can tell, the only reason to keep the AAC device over an ipad is the attached speaker for amplification. I do think the super sturdy case is actually important for an AAC device. It gets dragged into all sorts of environments because it’s being used for communication, that it would not come up with an iPad. My kid is 6 and she just got an AAC device (also after a year of working on it) and the number of times she has just let go of it and dropped it on the floor because she got distracted by a shiny object….

Also, you might want to check that you’re not paying for an extended warranty. Our extended warranty cost 1000. Our insurance covered it but I was really surprised they did. A warranty could have been included in your order without you realizing it (the speech therapist you worked with could have just included it) and your insurer denied that specifically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As far as I can tell, the only reason to keep the AAC device over an ipad is the attached speaker for amplification. I do think the super sturdy case is actually important for an AAC device. It gets dragged into all sorts of environments because it’s being used for communication, that it would not come up with an iPad. My kid is 6 and she just got an AAC device (also after a year of working on it) and the number of times she has just let go of it and dropped it on the floor because she got distracted by a shiny object….

Also, you might want to check that you’re not paying for an extended warranty. Our extended warranty cost 1000. Our insurance covered it but I was really surprised they did. A warranty could have been included in your order without you realizing it (the speech therapist you worked with could have just included it) and your insurer denied that specifically.

That’s good advice. I’ll check on the warranty.

[Anonymous]

The app would work the same on the Ipad. I am sorry you are going through this.