Speech Generating Devices Definition

We believe everyone deserves a voice.

Speech generating devices definition. Medicare coverage policy on speech generating devices. There is a lot of terminology in education and the field of speech therapy that refers to speech generating devices. Speech generating devices definition a speech generating device sgd is an electronic or non electronic aid or system which accommodates an expressive communication disability that precludes purposeful functional communication medically necessary to accomplish activities of daily living adl. Medicare recognizes speech generating devices sgds as durable medical equipment dme which is a covered benefit for medicare beneficiaries under the social security act section 1861 on july 29 2015 the centers for medicare medicaid services cms issued changes to the sgd benefit in a final decision memorandum reflected here.

For over 50 years prc has been a leader in giving a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves. You may have heard this term speech generating device or sgd for short or a host of other terms including assistive technology communication device augmentative communication aac and the list goes on. Speech generating devices sgds also known as augmentative or alternative communication devices are utilized to help individuals who have severe speech impairments such as aphasia apraxia or dysarthria to be able to meet their functional speaking needs. Touching letters or pictures on a computer screen that speaks for you is a high tech aided system.

Pointing to letters words or pictures on a board is a basic aided system. Sgds are important for people who have limited means of interacting verbally as they allow individuals to. Some of these speech generating devices or sgds can speak in different languages. Speech generating devices sgds also known as voice output communication aids are electronic augmentative and alternative communication aac systems used to supplement or replace speech or writing for individuals with severe speech impairments enabling them to verbally communicate.

They are covered for patients who suffer from a severe speech impairment and have a medical condition that warrants the use of a device based on the following definitions. Some devices speak words as the words are typed on a keyboard. Speech generating devices are specialised devices used only for communication. Speech generating devices sgds are defined by the centers for medicare and medicaid services as durable medical equipment that provides an individual who has a severe speech impairment with the ability to meet his or her functional speaking needs what they are however is life changing.

Speech generating devices are hand held electronic devices that play pre recorded words or phrases when the user touches a switch or presses buttons or keys. Speech generating devices are considered to fall within the dme benefit category established by 1861 n of the social security act.