We want to give children who find speech difficult a quick and effective way to tell others what is bothering them. Our app, Something Bothers Me, offers children an easy way to pinpoint what is bothering them, the seam on the waistband of their pants as an example, and get the word out to parents, teachers and other trusted adults by tapping through a few increasingly specific screens. This frees children from the frustration of trying to use spoken language when they are distressed and overwhelmed. It also lets the adults know what’s wrong and respond to the problem rather than ask a screaming child what’s the matter. Take a look at the overview and sample screens to the right and give it a try.
The app runs on iPhones and iPads, is compatible with their speech output, and allows users to send a text message through Dropbox. The message will have a time and date stamp so parents and teachers can look for patterns and plan ahead. “Getting the most out of your app” gives tips on using the app to learn the children’s key stressors, and to use calendar features to identify bad times of the day and sensory issues that trigger tantrums.