The uses of of Tactaids vary widely, depending upon the age of the user, whether the user has language, whether the user is wearing a hearing aid or cochlear implant at the same time, whether the user needs or desires to take advantage of the psychological assurance that comes from being "connected" to the world of sounds (traffic, household noises, the voices of others, the user's own voice, etc). Because there are so many uses for Tactaids, ther are several kinds of devices, varying in complexity and in price. For most users, The LTD is likely to be the best initial choice. However, as described below it may be useful for some users to at least try Tactaid VII. For speech and language training programs, all three devices can play a role; however, Tactaid VII is particularly useful for aiding consonant production. LTD The wearability and amount of information available make LTD the best device for the majority of potential users. Clients whoare familiar with Tactaid II+ may prefer it because it is a familiar device; however any client who had previously been a Tactaid II+ user is likely to do better with LTD. If the intention is for a user to wear a tactile device for much of the day (not merely for speech training sessions), we recommend that LTD be tried first. Also, the device is excellent for environmental sounds and music. Tactaid VII This device was developed specifically to help in speech production and language skill training in children. If a device is required specifically for such training programs, consideration should be given to these devices. Also, the large amount of information they provide has been found by some users to be superior to the two-channel systems in daily communication settings. Users who are performing well with LTD may like to try Tactaid VII as a comparison to see which device maximizes their individual performance. Such a trial should include the sort of training protocols described in Tactaid VII training manual, TARGO. The TARGO manual also provides appropriate exercises for this device. Below we have placed potential tactile aid users into several categories. By clicking on the category of interest to you, you will see the benefits of a tactile aid as well as which aid we suggest. The section on tactile aids and cochlear implants discusses using a tactile aid on individuals awaiting implants. Auditory/Verbal Adults Post-lingually deafened children Prelingually deafened children Deaf individuals whose primary language is Sign Tactaid and Cochlear Implants Phone: 617-628-1435