What Are Assistive Devices—And How Can They Help?

Assistive devices are pieces of equipment or technology that help people with disabilities perform daily tasks and activities. There are several types of devices that can help you with a wide range of functions, such as walking, traveling, reaching for items, operating machinery, seeing, communicating, and cooking, among other activities. Everything from a wheelchair or walker for mobility to a magnifying glass or phone app for reading qualifies as an assistive device.

One in four American adults lives with some form of disability. That said, these devices serve a crucial role in helping people manage mobility concerns, hearing loss, low or no vision, and cognitive issues. That's why knowing the types of assistive devices that exist, how they work, and whom they help can improve your own life and/or the lives of your loved ones.

What Are Assistive Devices?

An assistive device—sometimes also called assistive technology—is any tool, piece of equipment, or technology designed to help a person with a disability to independently function and perform daily tasks. These devices allow people to take full part in their communities and get the most out of their daily lives.

As such, assistive devices can help people with disabilities with the following activities:

• Live independently
• Travel
• Work
• Go to school
• Take part in social or recreational activities
• Communicate with others
• Cook, clean, and perform other daily tasks
• Bathe and brush teeth
• Go to the bathroom
• Read or learn
• Take part in sports
• Remember important information and deadlines
• Eat and drink  

Benefits

Just as there are many types of assistive devices, there are many types of disabilities. Alongside natural aging, a wide range of health conditions can cause disability and make aspects of daily living difficult. Assistive technology is specifically designed to help you manage any disability you have and make performing daily tasks easier on your body and overall well-being.

You may benefit from using an assistive device if you have:

• Mobility concerns, such as trouble walking or missing a limb
• Cognition problems, like difficulty with concentration, memory, or decision-making
• Hearing loss or deafness
• Vision impairment or blindness
• Progressive conditions that can impair daily function, such as diabetes or stroke
• Mental health conditions, such as ADHD, autism, or dementia, among others
• Learning disabilities

Adults over the age of 65 may also find assistive devices to be useful in their day-to-day lives. This is because natural aging can limit certain physical functions, such as walking, cooking, or bending down to pick up items.

Types of Assistive Devices

Broadly speaking, assistive devices fall into categories based on the type of disability that they help with. These categories include cognitive, communication, daily living, hearing, positioning, mobility, and vision devices.

Cognitive Devices

Cognitive assistive devices help people who may have trouble with thinking-related tasks, such as concentration or memory, and those with a brain injury, dementia, mental health conditions, or intellectual disabilities. Examples of cognitive devices include:

• Calendars and lists to help keep track of daily tasks
• Interactive schedules, which are apps on your phone that can track tasks in real-time
• Wristwatches that talk or speak to you
• Voice-activated phone dialers
• Automated pill dispensers to ensure you're getting the medication you need daily
• Mobility monitors, which track movements, falls, and physical activity levels
• Health or fitness trackers that track health measurements on a phone app or independent device
• Computer software or apps designed to help with memory

Communication Devices

Communication devices support people who may have difficulty understanding speech or taking. These devices are often also known as augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices, and may include the following:

• Picture boards, which are sheets with symbols, pictures, and photos to help with communication
• Touch screens that function as a picture board
• Keyboards with screens that display text
• Spelling and word prediction software for displaying text
• Speech generation devices, which translate words or pictures into spoken words
• Software programs that generate speech from words or pictures on a screen
• Teletype (TTY) devices, which display typewritten words on screens for phone conversations
• Eye and head tracking devices, which translate eye and head position onto a screen while you use a computer

Daily Living Devices

Another category of assistive devices is a type that helps people with daily tasks and independent living. There are many forms of daily living devices, including:

• Dressing sticks, long-handled shoehorns, sock aids, and other tools to support you while getting dressed or undressed
• Shower or tub chairs, handheld shower heads, grab bars, toilet risers, tub mats, and commodes for bathing and using the bathroom
• Adaptive utensils, plate guards, non-skid bowls, and other devices to help with cooking and eating
• Reach extenders, grab bars, specialized handles or grips, which allow people to reach items and use tools
• Automatic page-turners and bookholders to help with reading
• Medication organizers, pill crushers, or other tools that can help you stay on track with your medications
• Personal emergency response systems, such as pendants, bracelets, or belts that alert medical professionals in case of an emergency

Hearing Devices

A wide array of devices and technologies can also help people who are deaf or hard of hearing. These include:

• Hearing aids, which amplify sounds and help reduce background noise
• Cochlear implants, which are surgically implanted devices that deliver auditory (hearing-related) information to the brain
• Frequency modulation (FM) systems, which transmit amplified sounds to headphones
• Closed captioning on TVs or screens that convert speech to text
• TTY devices that display text from a telephone conversation
• Telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD), which create text of telephone conversations
• Visual alert systems, which light up or vibrate when there’s someone at the door, a phone call, an alarm, or signs of danger
• Real-time transcription apps, which transcribe speech into text

Positioning Devices

Positioning devices are designed to support the posture of people with a physical disability. Using these devices can help prevent symptoms of your condition from worsening. Some examples of positioning devices include:

• Wedges, which allow you to lay comfortably and strengthen neck muscles
• Standing frames, a structure that helps you stand up from a seated position
• Cushions that support posture when seated
• Splints, which wrap around and reinforce your wrists and ankles
• Corner chairs, which are created with special straps to provide postural support

Mobility Devices

Those who have an underlying health condition or injury and have trouble with walking or other physical activities may benefit from using a mobility device. These devices include:

• Canes or walking sticks to help with walking
• Walkers, which are aids that have four points of contact with the ground
• Wheelchairs, which may or may not have a motor
• Three-wheeled scooters, which have an electric motor to transport those unable to walk
• Crutches
• Prosthetics, or artificial limbs for walking
• Orthotic devices, which support the limbs, head, or trunk of the body
• Orthopedic shoes, which provide additional support to the feet
• Mounting devices for easier use of iPads, computers, or other devices
• Braces to support the legs
• Gait belts, which are straps that help you sit down, stand up, or lie down

Vision Devices

People with impaired vision or blindness may use the following devices or tools:

• Audiobooks, or recordings of books
• Eyeglasses to improve underlying eye conditions or blurry vision
• Braille books that use printed and raised dots to translate the text
• Large print books, which use bigger font sizes
• Screen readers that translate text to speech
• Apps that enlarge text on screens
• Magnifying glasses for enlargening printed text
• Visual keyboards and specialized, large buttons on phones
• Voice-operated devices or apps that allow computers or other technology to generate verbal commands

How Much Do Assistive Devices Cost?

The costs of assistive devices can vary a great deal. More specialized assistive devices, such as wheelchairs, three-wheeled carts, and cochlear implants can carry a hefty price tag and may require additional investment to maintain. Furthermore, children with disabilities may need additional assistive devices as they grow up.

In the U.S., research estimates that additional costs for households of people with disabilities range from $1,170 to $6,952 per year. That said, there are a number of resources available that can help—including the following:

• School districts may offer some assistive devices to students in need
• Social security disability insurance (SSDI) can offer assistance to eligible recipients
• Medicaid provides support for low-income families
• Medicare offers help to adults over the age of 65
• Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare is available for those who have served in the military
• Private insurance plans may cover the costs of certain assistive devices
• Private foundations, such as the People With Disabilities Association can aid you in finding the assistive technology you may need

If you or a loved one has a disability, utilizing the above resources can help. You might also consider talking to your healthcare provider about local resources and financing options through your insurance company or hospital billing department.

When to Contact a Healthcare Provider

If you have a disability and are interested in assistive devices, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider. Your primary care provider is typically the first point of contact. They will be able to tell you about your options and provide assistance in accessing the resources you need.

Your primary care provider will be able to refer you to a specialist, who can provide additional treatment or fit you with orthotics or other devices. Professionals like neurologists, occupational therapists, or physical therapists can also educate you on how to properly use and take care of assistive technology.

Here are some things you should keep as you prepare for an appointment about assistive devices:

• Come prepared with information about your condition and medical history
• Have your insurance information and a list of medications you’re taking
• Before coming in, ask your provider’s staff about forms and other pieces of information you need
• Bring along a family member or trusted friend for support, if you'd like
• Make sure you have made the necessary travel arrangements to get to and from the appointment
• Prior to the appointment, talk to your provider's office staff about accommodations you may need
• Ask questions about your health condition and any devices you are considering
• Take notes and record important information that your provider tells you

A Quick Review

An assistive device is any piece of equipment or technology that helps someone with a disability perform tasks and live independently. There are many types of such devices, including hearing aids, walkers, wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs, and apps that help with reading or communicating, among many others. If you or a loved one have a disability and are interested in assistive devices, talk to your healthcare provider about your options.