Getting Back the Gift of Gab: Next-Gen Handheld Computers Allow the Mute to
  Converse 
From: Scientific American - 08/10/2009
By: Larry Greenemeier

The latest assistive communication devices are here, and they work a bit like
your iPhone 

Justin Birch lost his ability to speak in 2003 as the result of a brain
aneurysm, who turns 34 this week, is a polite resident of Cape Coral, Fla.,
who would never intentionally annoy anyone, but it is nice to have the same
speech options as those who can speak on their own. Birch (who can walk with
the aid of a cane) achieves this via an assistive communication device that
allows him to tap out messages on a touch screen using a stylus. After his
messages are composed, the portable pad uses special software to announce his
thoughts in a simulated tones that sound similar to Justin's own
pre-aneurysmal voice. 

Read the entire article at:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=assistive-communication

Links:
DynaVox Mayer-Johnson V system
http://www.dynavoxtech.com/success/stroke/details.aspx?id=74

A journey through early augmentative communication and computer access
http://www.rehab.research.va.gov/jour/02/39/6/sup/vanderheiden.html

Digital Equipment's DECtalk DTC01 voice synthesizer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DECtalk

Prentke Romich Co.
http://store.prentrom.com/cgi-bin/store/E14.html

Words+, Inc.
http://www.words-plus.com/website/products/syst/conversa.htm

Communication Technologies/Resources
http://www.childrenshospital.org/clinicalservices/Site2016/mainpageS2016P5.html