Stephen Hawking speech

[Marijn]

How does Stephen Hawking speak. A friend of a friend can no longer speak or use his arms, so was wondering what Stephen Hawking uses, and how.

[Mortartube]

As far as I understand it, he has a very small amount of movement in his right cheek and has learned to control this movement quite accurately.

This is dechipered by a sensor connected to a computer and he can flip through various computer menus and put together sentences that are then delivered by his speech synthesiser.

[Marijn]

Thank you. Do you know how he could find out what sort of communication would be best for him, and where would he go? I haven't met him so I don't know what, if anything he is able to move by himself

[Buenchico]

To answer your original question, see here:
http://www.hawking.org.uk/index.php?option=com _content&view=article&id=52&Itemid=64

To find a source of help, try Googling the name of the gentleman's medical condition, together with the word 'charity'. For instance, if it's motor neurone disease, such a search would quickly take you here:
http://www.mndassociation.org/
Delving into that website finds, among other things, details of a helpline and information about their equipment loan service:
http://www.mndassociation.org/life_with_mnd/ge tting_support/services_from.html

Nearly all disabling medical conditions have dedicated charities, which provide similar support and services.

Chris

[ChuckFickens]

if you really want to know about him read some of his books too, he is very narrative and open in them.

[Marijn]

Thank you very much. I know his condition is extremely rare.
I will pass the information onto my friend, so that she can tell him.

[bednobs]

does he have a specialist nurse? or an ot? they would both be good starting points

[Marijn]

I don't know. I'll tell my friend. Thank you all.