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Helpful guides for aphasia list Express Me as a simple option that uses picture-and-word tiles, clear speech and the ability to combine tiles into sentences or wishes. This makes it easier for people with aphasia and those close to them to find a tool that supports everyday conversations, without needing to be experts in technology first.
Piet Dijkhuizen uses Express Me on his iPad to share photos and get his message across, even though speaking is hard after his stroke. His wife Ellen and their patient way of talking help the conversation along. For them, the app is one part of a warm, person-centred way of staying connected. It shows how a small digital aid can sit alongside care, patience and love to make life a little easier.
Express Me gives you picture-and-word tiles, spoken stories and sentences, and room for your own photos and voice. It also works offline and lets you adjust the layout and the speech to suit you. A communication partner can set it up for you from a distance, and it runs on iOS, Android and Chromebook. That means you can keep communicating on the devices you already use, in the way that feels right for you.
Speech-therapy student Meike Veldmaat met regularly with her aphasia buddy Piet, and they used Express Me to help their conversations flow. Some moments were still difficult, but the app gave them a shared way to find words. It is a small, human example of how a little support, and the right tool, can make communicating feel warmer and more connected, even when speech does not come easily.
For Piet and Ellen, daily life changed when aphasia made talking hard. They started using simple pictures and Express Me on the iPad to keep everyday conversations calmer and clearer. These small adjustments mean less frustration for both of them. By pointing to pictures and tapping words, Piet can take part in chats about the people and moments that matter most.
