Many families utilize the aac applications Proloquo2Go and Touchchat to interact efficiently with their children and clients. Many autistic persons have one of these applications as a communication medium. It might be difficult to choose from Proloquo2Go and Touchchat. Pricing, motor planning features, and device compatibility vary per model (like android tablets vs iPads). Many families prefer Proloquo2Go because of its many customizable features, whilst others prefer Touchchat because they want to include members of their care team in the process of language learning. It might be tricky to sort out which app is the greatest fit for communicating. Continue reading to find out how both applications compare in terms of vocabulary levels, parent onboarding, customer support, and more.
Touchchat |
Proloquo2Go |
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| Good for Early Communication |
Is great for kids who need an interactive board that guides them to make sentences based on the selected word.
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The Proloquo2Go app has a complex system that can be overwhelming for new and/or young AAC users.
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| Affordable Pricing |
The $9.99 lite version has no voice output, which can defeat much of the purpose of the app. The HD version is $149.99 and pro version is almost $300. There is no family sharing. Dedicated devices cost over $4,000.
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Price: $249.99. There is no free trial. Proloquo2Go provides little ability to see if the AAC talker app is a good fit before having to invest. It also does not include any option for dedicated hardware.
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| Easy to Get Started |
There is an intense programming set up process and a 108-page manual for parents.
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Estimated time of Proloquo2Go's basic set up is 3 or more hours. Proloquo does not expect parents to succeed unless they watch several hour long videos, read multiple blog articles, and review information in numerous links.
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| Behavior Supports |
TouchChat is pretty simple in its function and does not offer more than communication.
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There are no behavior supports included, leaving mom and dad to seek such tools elsewhere.
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| Multiple Device Options |
TouchChat is only available on iOS devices (or one of two dedicated device options that cost over four thousand dollars) and is chained to one person's apple ID. This makes it difficult to use with a variety of caregivers, teachers, and locations.
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The Proloquo app only works on IOS devices and does not offer a dedicated device for their app. This can be costly for users who have to buy expensive hardware just to use the app.
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| Easy Parent Modeling |
The Word Finder feature is on the app itself within the keyboard functionality, meaning caregivers must take the device away from the user to show them how to find a word.
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While there is a search option on the user's proloquo app that walks through the navigational path, Pprents are left high and dry to learn where all the symbols are for themselves to effectively model it.
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| Incentives to Practice |
TouchChat does not have any internal motivators to practice.
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There is nothing included to encourage users to practice their talker, which is important for actually developing language skills.
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| Natural Voices and Language Availability |
Available in English, Spanish, Hebrew, and Arabic. However, many voices have to be purchased separately.
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Proloquo offers natural voices in dozens of languages and accents. Yet, the voices are much less natural-sounding than many other AAC talkers.
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| Customer Support |
LiveChat or calling support is only offered when subscribed to a premium support plans. If you are using the Lite app, you have to rely on support articles for help.
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Only offers support via email and FAQ articles. Proloquo2Go does not give their customers live support.
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| Motor Planning |
The vocabulary avaiable is WordPower, a word-based page set made by Nancy L. Inman, M.A.T., CCC-SLP. This type of board helps users create sentences "on the fly."
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Yes- and no. Although they have predictable word positions, Proloque allows users to move buttons around. This makes it hard for kids to remember where words are.
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| Simplicity of the Screen |
Buttons are often small and thin in size when using it to its fullest potential, requiring good finger dexterity.
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Proloquo's extreme customization can make the talker complicated very quickly. The screen gets scrunched and buttons are often hard to find.
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| Safety and 9-1-1 Calling features |
TouchChat only offers the functionality of a talker.
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Outside of using the talker to communicate that they are in trouble, Proloquo2Go offers no way to ensure your child’s safety.
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| Affordable Dedicated Device Option |
The only available dedicated device is a NovaChat by Saltillo or TouchChat Express, which are over $4,000 in cost.
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Proloquo2Go is only an app with no device included. The only way to get Proloquo2Go on a distraction-free device is to go through another company and pay for both services.
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| Communication With Spelling |
TouchChat offers a keyboard for creating words from letters. It also has head tracking.
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Proloquo allows users to type out unique words, a feature created mainly for older, more advanced AAC users.
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| Reminders to Practice |
No built-in incentives to grow in communication.
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No visual schedule features included. Remembering to practice AAC is solely on caregivers’ shoulders.
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| Image and Symbol Quality |
You have to purchase additional symbol libraries and voices to make it uniquely customized.
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Uses SymbolStix, a library of symbols that revolve around stick people that mostly have no gender, age, etc. While simple, many symbols lack context and are not very clear. They are also not open source.
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| Fun Games to Build Skills |
Touch Chat has no external or supporting games that improve AAC users' finger dexterity.
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There are no games or strategies to improve finger dexterity included in Proloquo2Go's aac app.
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| Levels of Vocabulary |
Has a robust vocabulary- base of 500 core words, has grammar features that you can turn on, and has a literacy feature called "logical linking"
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Proloquo2Go uses Crescendo vocabulary, which offers three pre-programmed levels: Basic, Intermediate Core and Advanced Core levels. However, the preprogrammed levels are complicated to navigate and understand.
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| Care Team Access |
The app is limited to devices logged in on the apple ID used to purchase the software.
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There is no ability to share beyond the apple ID of the user. Teachers, other parents, therapists, etc. can not have direct access if they do not share the apple ID of the account.
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