Article 3. Auditory Scanning

Waitress: How are you today?

Ann: Hits switch. Device says Greetings, Comments, Waitress, and Music. It begins to repeat, Greetings. This time Ann hits the switch and hears, Hello. Fine. She hits the switch. The device says, "I'm fine. How are you doing?"

Waitress: I'm okay, what's new?

Ann: Hits switch and hears, (again) Greetings, Comments, and Waitress. She hits the switch. Menu, Order. She hits the switch. The device says, "I'm ready to order."

Two major problems exist. First, items must be presented one at a time so access to vocabulary is limited and slow. A person may need to hit the switch multiple times for each message. Second, auditory scanning can be disruptive to others in the environment. Some characteristics to consider when selecting an auditory scanning device are summarized in Table IV (not included) below. Note: Information about features was adapted from Barker and Henderson's CSUN presentation.⁴

Language presentation: While initially someone may select from only 2 messages ("I want juice" "I want cracker"), the need to access more vocabulary occurs real fast. Thus, how language is organized and presented is important. Branching is a technique that allows users to navigate through multiple levels until they find what they want to say. Goals are to get to the message, and limit the number of times a person must hit a switch. Correcting errors can be tedious, at best. In the example, Ann's first branch was a list of specific categories (Greetings, Comments.). When she selected Greetings, a second branch of words within that category was presented (Hello and Fine). She selected the cue "Fine," and her message was spoken "I'm fine. How are you doing?" The concept of "branching" seems to underlie all language presentation strategies used in auditory scanning. Thus, when a device can sequence locations (coding, Minspeak, linking), the user selects a location, which automatically puts her in a branch linked to specific vocabulary. Auditory icon prediction means the device scans only those icons linked (or in the branch). True auditory word prediction is available in linguistic prediction word processing programs.

Scanning Option. Most people use a single switch with automatic scanning. However, large vocabulary users with residual vision may want to try proportional controls (joystick, mouse).

Visual presentation. For persons with residual vision, the visual presentation of information is very important. Color is useful.

Final comments

Many devices and communication software provide auditory scanning options. Barker and Henderson⁴ are identifying device characteristics. Buzolich and King⁶ have carefully described approaches to assessment and intervention. We need more information about how to arrange vocabulary on today's devices and how to optimize auditory scanning.