Oviya finds her voice
She always had something to say, but couldn’t – until now.
Living with developmental delay and epilepsy, 15-year-old Oviya is non-verbal and doesn’t have the fine motor ability to use a touch screen. But thanks to a new technology developed by Dr. Tom Chau at the Bloorview Research Institute – and your kindness! – she’s discovered her voice.
Coined the “Hummingbird”, the wearable device detects vocal cord vibrations when the wearer hums. These sounds act as a mouse scanning for words on a computer screen that Oviya can piece together to express herself!
Dr. Chau firmly believes “every child has the right to communicate” and kids like Oviya deserve every opportunity to express themselves. And now, with the Hummingbird, she can!
Oviya’s mother is overjoyed. “Now she can communicate not just her immediate needs, like ‘I’m hungry’, but can tell us what kind of music she likes, who she wants to hang out with, or what she wants to do. She has lots of opinions!”
Your support has opened up whole new world of possibility for kids who are non-verbal.
