by Ed Bryant
Photo: Audio Labelling devices. Caption: The ALOUD Model 100 Audio Labeling
System
Last July, in VOICE, Vol. 15, No. 4, I discussed the pending availability of the new ALOUD Model 100 Audio Labelling System. Manufactured by ASKO Corporation, this new product can best be described as a talking prescription container, something that should interest ANY blind person, or anyone with significant sight loss, who needs to take prescription medications. Here is how it works:
When a pharmacist dispenses your medication, an audio version of the printed prescription label (called an Audio Label ) is also produced, and attached to the medication container. When the Audio Label is placed into your ALOUD replay unit, the Audio Label information recorded by your pharmacist is replayed. As this is a recording, not voice synthesis, any language your pharmacist speaks can be recorded!
Each medication will have its own Audio Label, and can be played over and over, as many times as you like. Any medication dispensed from a rigid container can utilize the system, and the only person who can change the message is your pharmacist, who has a special recorder in the pharmacy. The Audio Label is reusable, so when you need to have your prescription refilled or changed, the message can be changed also and attached to your new prescription.
For years I have been searching for alternatives to sighted identification of insulin vials. There have been a number of partial solutions, but the ALOUD System appears functional with any insulin from any manufacturer, and any language. The current Audio Label is too large to be really practical with insulin vials, especially if the diabetic uses adaptive insulin measuring devices -- but ASKO has been most willing to work with the National Federation of the Blind, and with our NFB Diabetes Action Network, to adapt their system to labelling insulin vials -- and, as no approval from the Food and Drug Administration is necessary, action should come soon.
The ALOUD System is already available through RX Partners Pharmacy, a mail-order and online service based in Pittsburgh, PA -- but only for patients who purchase their medications through that pharmacy.
For information, contact: RX Partners Pharmacy, PO Box 466, Bridgeville, PA 15017-9981; telephone: (866) 332-5683; website: www.rxpartnerspharmacy.com Further information about the ALOUD system can be obtained from: ASKO Corporation, 2 South Street, Stamford, NY 12167; telephone, toll-free: 1-877-732-9227; website: www.askocorp.com
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