Communication Tools for the Mute

Many singers, or those with throat infections, rest their voices for days on end to preserve the throat from rawness or damage. Imagine not talking for a whole day, not because you choose to, but because you can't. The reality can be frustrating and lonely for those who are speech-impaired. Luckily, there are now many ways for those who are vocally impaired, or mute, to communicate with friends and family.

Pen and Paper

• A pen and paper is one of the easiest ways to communicate with others.

  Though it may seem obvious, sometimes obvious is genius. A pen and a pad of paper is one of the simplest ways to get your point across when trying to communicate. Although sometimes a slow conversation, using a pen and paper allows for a broad source of expression with not only the use of writing your thoughts out, but by drawing. Much like on Internet chat programs, drawing smiley faces, underlines, or caricatures along-side your written words emphasizes your point.

Sign-Language

• Sign language can be used to speak, tell jokes and even express sarcasm.

  Sign-language, or hand-speak, has become a popular method of communicating for those who cannot verbally speak. Sign language is the manipulation of the hands, arms, face, and body into shapes and expressions that convey the "speakers" thoughts and feelings. Many websites offer free lessons to help you learn sign-language from your own home, such as the website Handspeak, or the American Sign Language Resource Site. Many colleges and universities around the world also offer sign-language study programs. Finger-spelling is another form of signing language, where one shapes their hands to sign the letters of the alphabet. It is recommended that a child born without the ability to speak should begin learning sign language as soon as possible.

Portable Typing

• When without a pad of paper, use the notepad option on your cell-phone.

  Toting around a ringed-notebook and pen may be a hassle for some, as ink dries up, lead breaks, and paper runs out. However, thanks to technology, humans have been able to shrink the computer-keyboard down to a pocket size, making "writing" a whole lot simpler. These shrunken keyboards are commonly seen on cell-phones in flip format, or stylus-to-touch-screen format. As typing is often seen as a quicker solution to writing or printing, the use of products such as the Apple iPad's "Notebook App" makes portable communication even easier.