Meet Astrid

MyTobii gives her a voice and the ability to keep up in school

After suffering acute lack of oxygen, Astrid Lorenzen was pronounced dead at birth. But resuscitation efforts helped her to overcome death and she is now nine years old. For the past year, she has been able to communicate with her family and the rest of the world in a way unimaginable until now.

“When Astrid came back to life we decided to fight to give her the best life possible,” says Astrid’s mom Dorte Lorenzen.

Astrid has severe CP due to complications during her birth. As a result, she is unable to make herself understood through speech. For the first eight years of her life Astrid has communicated using body language and by pointing at pictures in a specially adapted book. However, since December 2007 she has been using MyTobii P10 to communicate with those around her.

Found MyTobii P10 by chance

Astrid’s parents discovered MyTobii P10 by chance at an IT exhibition a couple of years ago.

“We realized immediately the opportunities it could give Astrid to communicate,” says Dorte. “Astrid also needed the equipment to keep up in school.”

Can’t stop talking

Astrid is in third grade and works at the same level as her 22 classmates. She communicates with her peers and answers her teacher’s questions by using the computer screen instead of pointing at her red book like she used to. Astrid forms words by fixing her eyes onto letters shown on the screen, which then are converted into speech.

The device has given her a new, easier way to communicate with her classmates. Now she can call them and say exactly what she wants to say.

“Astrid has suddenly become a bigger girl. It’s important that she can answer with a voice at home and at school. It’s easier for the family now since we can communicate much more naturally than before,” says Dorte.