Many families adopt the aac applications Cboard and Coughdrop in order for their children and clients to connect better. Many persons with autism use one of these applications as their primary communication instrument. It might be difficult to choose between Cboard and Coughdrop. Pricing, motor planning features, and device compatibility are all different (like android tablets vs iPads). Many families prefer Cboard because of its extensive customizability, while others prefer Coughdrop because they value including members of their care team in the language learning process. Choosing the right app to use as a communication tool might be difficult. Continue reading to learn how both applications compare in terms of vocabulary levels, parent onboarding, customer support, and more.
CoughDrop |
Cboard |
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| Good for Early Communication |
CoughDrop can work for early users but is often helpful for adults and users that do not have good dexterity. Users can enable eye tracking to sync with eye gaze.
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Requires a log-in to access, which means younger kids must rely on caregivers to access their voice.
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| Affordable Pricing |
CoughDrop is $6/mo OR $200 for a lifetime payment. However, they charge a $25 fee for a "superviser" account, which allows other caregivers access to edit the board. There is a 2-month free trial option.
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Free. But CBoard depends on charitable donations, which means the future of CBoard may not be certain.
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| Easy to Get Started |
Estimated time: 15-20 minutes. CoughDrop guides the user through set up. Although customizing coughdrop's AAC talker app is pretty straightforward, there is not much onboarding support from the CoughDrop team.
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Set-up is simple (under 15 minutes). However, there is little support for customizing and learning more about its functionality. CBoard has an extensive FAQ page on their website but offers little more than that.
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| Behavior Supports |
CoughDrop's only form of behavior supports come in the form of badges and external feedback from caregivers.
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CBoard offers no behavior supports. It is language-focused only.
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| Multiple Devices |
CoughDrop is built on basic web standards. This means that while it works on computers, Android devices, IOS devices, Chromebooks, Windows devices, and Amazon devices, it does require access to browser storage to work right when accessed from the web. They do have an app version available, but no distraction-free device.
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CBoard is a web-based app. This means that while it can be used on any device that has access to the internet, it is essentially restricted to the settings of individual browsers.
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| Easy Parent Modeling |
Modeling is done through a search function on cough drop's interface. It will highlight a path, but the search must be done on the AAC device itself, leaving search and other settings exposed for user to get distracted by while in speak mode.
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There is no apparent way to search for a word while web-based app is active.
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| Incentives to Practice |
CoughDrop allows users to set goals and badges for practicing within the application.
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There is no attached reward system that encourages new users to learn a new way to communicate.
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| Natural Voices and Language Availability |
CoughDrop's premium voices are only available on iOS, Android and Amazon apps. Voice settings also depend on the device being used. Although there is a multitude of languages and accents, the flexibililty in voice selection is not consistent.
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CBoard offers natural voices in 33 languages.
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| Customer Support |
The only support available is through FAQ articles, videos, and email communication.
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Offline support is only available on android or desktop via google chrome.
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| Motor Planning |
Yes. CoughDrop's users learn through muscle memory. Words do not move, and others can be hidden.
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Users can drag pictograms/symbols or folders to wherever they want by "unlocking" them. This can make it difficult for AAC users to learn where words are if they keep getting moved around.
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| Simplicity of the Screen |
More advanced users are set up with an overwhelming grid with very small buttons.
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Words and images are big and easy to find. CBoard also has scrolling. However, the movement of words when adding vocabulary can get confusing!
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| Safety and 9-1-1 Calling features |
Outside of speaking through the CoughDrop AAC talker to say that they are in a difficult situation, CoughDrop has no safety functionality.
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There is no built-in safety feature outside of the AAC functionality itself. Because CBoard is limited to web-based browsers, there is little guarantee that users would have reliable access to a communication device in emergencies.
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| Affordable and Dedicated Device Option |
No dedicated device offered. Users have to go through a third party and pay separately for CoughDrop software on the device.
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Cboard does not offer a device. It is web-based only, meaning protection of hardware is the sole responsiblity of parents or caregivers.
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| Communication With Spelling |
CoughDrop has a keyboard screen that provides the ability to spell words from scratch. This keyboard is used by many older users. The keyboard can be found in a side bar shortcut.
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No- CBoard functions with symbol-based words and does not have a separate keyboard to type out words letter-by-letter.
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| Reminders to Practice |
CoughDrop does not have reminders that help encourage users to practice.
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There is no reminder feature or visual schedule included in CBoard.
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| Image and Symbol Quality |
CoughDrop uses Open Symbols, an open source collection of symbols for communication.
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CBoard is open source, meaning there were many different contributors to its content. User can upload any images they would like, as well as record their own audio for symbols.
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| Fun Games to Build Skills |
CoughDrop offers little in regard to improving dexterity outside of consistent AAC practice. No supporting features.
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CBoard does not provide strategies to improve finger dexterity.
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| Levels of Vocabulary |
The beginning set up asks users to pick from 3 levels of boards: brand new, some experience, and very experienced. However, they don't guide with size of buttons very well.
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While there is a lot of customization that can be done, there are no specific levels for users to work through as they grow in language capability
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| Care Team Access |
CoughDrop charges per-communicator, so all care team members can create an account for free.
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CBoard has community board sharing and is always accessible from the web.
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