A Case Series Study of the Utilization of 50-letter and Flick Type Transparent Communication Boards in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

The transparent communication board (TCB) is a communication tool that is commonly employed by individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Both the 50-letters and flick type TCB are prevalent in Japan. The purpose of this case study was to compare and investigate the speed of letter transmission and the subjective user impression associated with the use of the 50-letters and flick type TCB in ALS patients. The study included four ALS patients and four caregivers, who acted as communication partners. Participants used the 50-letters and flick type TCB at intervals ranging from one week to 90 days. They received video instructions on how to use each type of TCB and tried to transmit a total of 18 Japanese letters. We measured the time taken to transmit each word and the number of errors. Additionally, the participants were asked to complete a questionnaire assessing their subjective impressions of the TCB. Compared with the 50-letters type, the ALS patients and their partners tended to make fewer errors and preferred the flick type of TCB. However, the 50-letters type was easier to use to communicate if the patient and partner were not familiar with the flick type sequence. Our data suggest that the age of the patient and their partner, as well as the amount of experience using a smartphone, should be considered when choosing a TCB.