It might be difficult to choose the ideal AAC app for your family. The Proloquo2Go software comes with a number of useful features, easy symbols, and a lot of customizing options. However, its convoluted grid and methodology make it difficult for parents and users to comprehend. While Coughdrop's AAC software is simpler, its ease of use and numerous features make it one of the most successful communication applications for young children. Many families are opting using Goally as their AAC device for autistic children, adults, and others. Is Proloquo ready to leave? Compare the characteristics of Proloquo2Go with Coughdrop's AAC to make your own decision.
Coughdrop |
Proloquo2Go |
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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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The Proloquo2Go app has a complex system that can be overwhelming for new and/or young AAC users.
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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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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 |
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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Estimated time of Proloquo3go'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 |
CoughDrop's only form of behavior supports come in the form of badges and external feedback from caregivers.
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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 |
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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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 |
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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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 |
CoughDrop allows users to set goals and badges for practicing within the application.
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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 |
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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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 |
The only support available is through FAQ articles, videos, and email communication.
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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 |
Yes. CoughDrop's users learn through muscle memory. Words do not move, and others can be hidden.
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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 |
More advanced users are set up with an overwhelming grid with very small buttons.
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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 |
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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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 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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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 and 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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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 |
CoughDrop does not have reminders that help encourage users to practice.
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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 |
CoughDrop uses Open Symbols, an open source collection of symbols for communication.
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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 |
CoughDrop offers little in regard to improving dexterity outside of consistent AAC practice. No supporting features.
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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 |
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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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 |
CoughDrop charges per-communicator, so all care team members can create an account for free.
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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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Discover how Goally’s AAC app empowers people to learn language and communicate more effectively than any other AAC app out there.
Goally's language learning apps are just $12 a month. If it does not work for your family, you can cancel at any time.
