# Speech Assistant AAC — Text to Speech Communication > Text-to-speech communication aid for speech-impaired individuals. (iPhone/iPad app by Ton Schalke.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/speech-assistant-aac/id1139762358 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Ton Schalke](https://appshunter.io/developer/1139762357) - Category: Medical, Education - Price: $24.99 - Rating: 4.60/5 from 103 App Store ratings · 89 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 15.5 · 131 MB - Languages: Dutch, German (Germany), European Spanish, American English, Italian, Japanese, French (France) - Released: 2016-09-03 - Data updated: 2026-08-27 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/speech-assistant-aac/id1139762358/reviews.md ## What is Speech Assistant AAC? Speech Assistant AAC is a text-to-speech app designed for people who are speech impaired, for example due to Aphasia, MND/ALS, Autism, Stroke, Cerebral Palsy or other speech problems. With the app you can create categories and save phrases on buttons for quick access and easy communication. You can also type messages using the iOS keyboard. The app is affordable with a one-time payment and no subscription. Key features • Easy to use and fully customizable to your needs and preferences. • Categories and subcategories to organize your phrases. • History feature to quickly access previously entered phrases. • Option to add symbols, emoji or photos to the buttons. • Full screen mode to display your messages in large font. • Autocomplete feature to display phrase suggestions in a drop-down list. • Tabs for multiple conversations. • Designed for iPhone and iPad, supports both portrait and landscape orientation. • Supports Apple Watch. • Backup to iCloud, Mail or AirDrop. Voices • You can choose a voice from any of the iOS system voices. • Supports ElevenLabs voices, giving you the option to use highly realistic AI professional voice clones. • Supports Apple's Personal Voice. • Option to create voice recordings for the buttons and to import voice recordings. Phone calls • The app can also be used while making Phone and FaceTime calls. • This works with iOS system voices and with iOS 18 also with ElevenLabs voices and regular recordings (app setting). Categories and phrases • Add, change or delete your own (sub)categories and phrases. • You can create an unlimited number of categories to organize your phrases for quick access. • Create user profiles with their own categories, phrases and settings for multi-language support or different individuals. • Easily edit category and phrase buttons with a long press. • With Backup to iCloud or AirDrop you can transfer your categories and phrases to another iPhone/iPad. Fully Customizable • The size of the buttons, the textbox and the text can be adjusted. • The app has various color schemes and you can also create a personal color scheme. • You can change the order of the buttons with drag and drop. Full screen • Show your message full screen with a very large font. • Useful for communicating in a noisy environment. • You can rotate the text to show your message to the person opposite of you. Speech • The rate and pitch of the speech can be adjusted. • Option to speak each Word or Character directly while typing. • Optional highlighting of the spoken words. • Pause and resume speaking by tapping the speak button (optional setting). Apple Watch • The Watch app can especially be useful for communicating short messages. • On the go, you don't have to pick up your phone and can quicky communicate with the app on your wrist. Other features • Button to share your message to mail, text and social media. • Connect a bluetooth keyboard and create shortcuts for actions. • A custom keyboard can be enabled in the settings with customizable size, color and layout. • Abbreviations expansion to reduce keystrokes. • Attention sound button on Main and Full screen. • Option to select symbols from the set of 3400 Mulberry Symbols (mulberrysymbols.org). About the app • This app is developed by ASoft. • The app does not collect any data, so all your conversations stay private. • One-time payment, there is no subscription fee. • The app has won an innovation award: The Vodafone Mobiles For Good Challenge. • The app does not require an internet connection. • For feedback or questions, please contact: speechassistant@asoft.nl. • On www.asoft.nl you can find more information such as a user manual. ## Key features - Customizable buttons with phrases and symbols - Multiple voice options including AI clones - Full-screen mode for large font display - Category and subcategory organization - User profiles for multiple individuals - iCloud backup and transfer ## Chart rankings - #19 in Top Paid · Medical (US App Store) - #182 in Top Grossing · Medical (US App Store) ## What do users think of Speech Assistant AAC? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 👍 Life-saver for communication - 👍 Highly customizable - 👍 Easy to use - 👍 Affordable price - 👍 Versatile across devices - 👍 Great for ALS patients - 👍 Intuitive design - 👍 Responsive developers - 👍 Good for emergencies - 👍 Improves quality of life **Cons** - 🐛 Inconsistent syncing - 🐛 Issues with transparent backgrounds - 🐛 Unpleasant default voices - 🐛 Costly for some - 🐛 Family sharing problems - 🐛 App crashes/freezes - 🐛 Voice not playing on calls - 🐛 Glitching hex codes - 🐛 Difficulty with specific features - 🐛 Default voices not ideal **Commonly reported bugs** - Default category button cannot be deleted - Images with transparent backgrounds turn white - Color picker does not work - Blank word slot in new subcategories cannot be deleted - Recorded or imported audio on buttons doesn't play on phone calls - Cannot send voice message to WhatsApp - App crashes on iOS 17.5.1 on iPhone XS - Hex codes keep changing after input - Return key to send/speak disabled in latest update - Syncing from iPad to iPhone not happening - Categories don't stay on conversation when switching tabs - App keeps crashing/freezing - Option to not read directly seems to no longer work - Speech button not working - Syncing between iPhone and iPad not working - App crashes when another app uses speaker - Voice output not heard during phone calls **Most requested features** - Ability to move sub-categories - Toggle for reading category names - Sub-sub-categories - Option to choose image files - Color picker for customization - Delete blank word slot in subcategories - Send text to speech to WhatsApp - Shortcut to Control Panel - Ability to reset element sizes - Ability to clone own voice - Drag option for moving positions - Syncing between devices - More symbols for basic words - Control AI devices (Echo, Google) - Child voices for TTS - Option to use only iPhone/iPad speaker easily - Better autocorrect - Fix mispronunciation of words - Ability to print phrases from app - Change font size of settings/documentation - More than 5 choices in 'Clear/Restore' - Ability to create sub-categories - Record/import audio on phone calls - Full screen mode - Option for UK female voice - Draw within the app and convert to text - Customize buttons with color - Add own voice to phrases - Eye control app - Make pictures on text buttons appear in read-out windows - Use own pre-recorded voice - Text can be shown in large print - Add a lock on app configuration - Use own voice for TTS - More advanced audio options - Better integration with other apps - Option to not read directly when disabled - Full functionality access for recording sessions - Return key to send/speak functionality - Sync categories with conversation tabs - Ability to delete default category button - Support for other languages ## Recent user reviews (10 of 89) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/speech-assistant-aac/id1139762358/reviews.md ### 5/5 — A game changer *2026-08-12* I praise this app and the developer who made but this one surpasses them. I have a rare disease called Kearns Sayre Syndrome. My speech is really complicated and compromosed more now verbally. I used this app for everyday living from chatting with family and friends to Doctors appointments. Make sure you buy the whole version and upgrade to pro to unlock all its features it has to offer. ### 1/5 — ABSOLUTE TRASH!! 👎 *2026-06-28* I downloaded Speech Assistant AAC for my sister, who was intubated in the hospital and completely unable to speak. She needed a reliable, simple way to communicate with nurses and doctors during one of the most terrifying and vulnerable times of her life. Instead, she got a cruel joke of an application that actively made her suffering worse. The entire interface is a masterclass in incompetence. Every single menu is a confusing, poorly organized mess. Nothing is intuitive. Nothing is labeled clearly. The text is so tiny that even someone with perfect vision would struggle, let alone a patient who is already exhausted, medicated, and fighting for every breath. Trying to navigate this app requires fine motor control and mental clarity that a critically ill person simply does not have. The result? My sister became visibly more stressed and agitated every time she tried to use it. What should have been a tool for empowerment became another source of frustration and helplessness. She eventually became so enraged and defeated by the app’s failures that she threw the iPad across the room. In a hospital setting, that is not just bad design — that is actively dangerous and irresponsible. This is not a communication aid. It is a poorly disguised scam that preys on desperate families looking for any solution during medical emergencies. The developers clearly never tested this with real patients in real medical situations. They have no understanding of accessibility, no respect for users in crisis, and apparently no shame. Anyone considering this app for a loved one who cannot speak should immediately look elsewhere. There are actual, well-designed AAC solutions created by people who understand the stakes. This app is not one of them. It is absolute trash and should be removed from the App Store. **Developer response:** I am sorry to hear about your experience. Using the app—or any app—for the first time during a stressful crisis situation can indeed be difficult. The settings are organized into five clearly separated sections: General, Layout & Colors, Categories & Phrases, Speech & Sound, and Backup, to help to find the available options. The app is highly customizable; in the Layout section, button and text sizes can be adjusted to be smaller or significantly larger as needed. If you have any questions or problems with the app, you can contact speechassistant@asoft.nl ### 4/5 — solid app :) *2026-06-02* i’ve already written a review before about this app, but there were some features that i thought i would suggest… firstly, there’s an issue where, when you make a category, a button is already made for you and you can’t delete it. it leaves my boards looking messy and it bugs me. secondly, i think the ability to move sub-categories around the same way you can move buttons around would be great. it would be nice to move sub-categories around in the same spots buttons can move if that makes sense. no further comments there. thirdly, a small suggestion that i think would make a great difference for some people; a feature to toggle the ability for the app to read the names of the categories and sub-categories you’re clicking on as you click on tnem the same way buttons read out when you click on them. fourthly, recordded or imported audio on buttons doesn’t play on phone calls! please fix this… and finally, i think there should be sub-sub-categories. a lot of aac apps have so many layers of sub-categories you can do and i think adding more sub-categories options would be great :) thank you for your time! ### 4/5 — solid app :) *2026-05-30* i’ve already written a review before about this app, but there were some features that i thought i would suggest… firstly, there’s an issue where, when you make a category, a button is already made for you and you can’t delete it. it leaves my boards looking messy and it bugs me. secondly, i think the ability to move sub-categories around the same way you can move buttons around would be great. it would be nice to move sub-categories around in the same spots buttons can move if that makes sense. no further comments there. thirdly, a small suggestion that i think would make a great difference for some people; a feature to toggle the ability for the app to read the names of the categories and sub-categories you’re clicking on as you click on tnem the same way buttons read out when you click on them. and finally, i think there should be sub-sub-categories. a lot of aac apps have so many layers of sub-categories you can do and i think adding more sub-categories options would be great :) thank you for your time! ### 1/5 — Produit *2026-04-15* Bon mais très dispendieux et puis sur d’autres appareils qu’appel l’application est gratuite ### 5/5 — Amazing *2026-03-21, version 5.8.5* Incredible app that honestly is worth hundreds and for 25 bucks they gave us and my son a amazing tool. It works so well on the Apple Watch ### 4/5 — Problème partagé *2026-02-13* Bonjour Malgré le partage familial opérationnel sur iPad impossible de partager l’application alors qu’il est possible de partager avec six personne ### 5/5 — Real game changer *2025-12-12* I praise this app and the developer who made but this one surpasses them. I have a rare disease called Kearns Sayre Syndrome. My speech is really complicated and compressed more now verbally. I used this app for everyday living. Make sure you buy the whole version and upgrade to pro to unlock all its features it has to offer. ### 1/5 — Horrible voices *2025-11-14, version 5.8.2* The voices in the app are jarring and not high quality at all. ### 5/5 — A++++++++++++ *2025-10-20, version 5.8.2* Literally a lifesaver for someone with ALS. Can now communicate with medics, doctors, nurses, family and strangers during emergencies. App is easy to use. Offers options for customization. Highly recommend! ## Frequently asked questions about Speech Assistant AAC ### What is Speech Assistant AAC? Speech Assistant AAC is a text-to-speech application designed to help individuals with speech impairments communicate effectively. It allows users to create custom buttons with saved phrases, symbols, or photos for quick and easy communication. The app supports various voice options and can be used during phone calls. ### How can I customize the app? The app is fully customizable to meet individual needs. You can adjust button sizes, textbox dimensions, and text font size. Various color schemes are available, and you can even create your own. Button order can be changed with drag and drop functionality. ### What are the voice options available? You can choose from any of the iOS system voices. The app also supports ElevenLabs voices for highly realistic AI voice clones and Apple's Personal Voice. Additionally, you can create custom voice recordings for buttons. ### Is there a subscription fee for Speech Assistant AAC? No, the app is affordable with a one-time payment. There are no subscription fees required to use its features. ### Can I use this app on multiple devices? Yes, the app is designed for both iPhone and iPad and supports both portrait and landscape orientations. You can also back up your categories and phrases to iCloud, Mail, or AirDrop to transfer them to another device. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 6.0.1 — 2026-08-26 Minor improvements and fixes. ### 6.0 — 2026-08-17 New Full Screen Typing action button, giving you more space to type and edit longer messages. ### 5.9 — 2026-07-25 Minor improvements and fixes. ### 5.8.65 — 2026-07-04 A problem with including images in the complete backup has been resolved. ### 5.8.64 — 2026-05-31 Minor improvements and fixes. ## Apps similar to Speech Assistant AAC | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Verifie Health](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/verifie-health/id1594121580) | — | Free | Medical | | [ImmerseRx mNSCLC Immunotherapy](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/immerserx-mnsclc-immunotherapy/id1640327940) | 5.0 (1) | Free | Medical | | [misTMJ](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mistmj/id1592838220) | — | Free | Medical | | [TOKA Surgery Simulator](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/toka-surgery-simulator/id1589939900) | 2.0 (6) | Free | Medical | | [Meducator - Medical AI](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meducator-medical-ai/id1659157660) | 4.8 (27) | Free | Medical | | [MiMed Pharmacy](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mimed-pharmacy/id1639863000) | 5.0 (1) | Free | Medical | ## More apps by Ton Schalke - [Speech Assist Switch](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/speech-assist-switch/id1460817463) All apps by Ton Schalke: https://appshunter.io/developer/1139762357 ## Related topics [speech assistant aac](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/speech-assistant-aac) · [speech assistant offline](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/speech-assistant-offline) · [communication speech](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/communication-speech) · [speech assistant](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/speech-assistant) · [assist speech](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/assist-speech) · [text to speech assistant](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/text-to-speech-assistant) · [dot speech bubbles in german](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/dot-speech-bubbles-in-german) · [text to speak communication](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/text-to-speak-communication) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-27.*