Assistive technology · UK-wide
Eye gaze technology for communication, and everything that comes with it.
A proper AAC assessment, an honest map of the NHS CAT pathway, and — where you need it — a private or charity-loan bridge while you wait. For MND, locked-in syndrome, cerebral palsy and severe motor impairment.
Why families choose us
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A speech and language therapist first, a device second
The right device only matters after a proper AAC assessment. We start with the SLT, not the catalogue.
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NHS pathway and private options side by side
We map your route through the NHS CAT service and set out the private and charity-loan options honestly.
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Independent, and free
We are paid by no manufacturer, so the recommendation on Tobii, Smartbox or PRC is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What eye-gaze technology costs — NHS, private and charity routes.
NHS CAT services fund the vast majority of clinically indicated eye-gaze provision. Private and charity loan options exist for interim use and for people outside NHS eligibility.
In short
A tablet-based private set-up: £4,000–£8,000. A full standalone AAC device: £10,000–£20,000.
| Item | Indicative range | Session length | Funding / turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standalone eye-gaze AAC device (Tobii I-Series, Grid Pad Eye, PRC Accent) | £10,000–£20,000 | Fitting session | NHS-funded via CAT service where eligible |
| Windows tablet + add-on eye tracker (Tobii Eye Tracker 5, EyeTech, Irisbond) | £1,800–£5,500 | Fitting session | Private / self-pay route |
| AAC software licence (Grid 3, Communicator 5, Snap Core First) | £350–£700 | Install and setup | Same visit |
| Wheelchair or floor mount and positioning | £600–£2,400 | 1–2 hours | Same visit |
| Voice banking (Acapela my-own-voice / ModelTalker) | £100–£900 | 2–6 hours recording | 2–4 weeks for voice build |
| SLT AAC assessment (private) | £180–£450 | 60–90 min | Report within a week |
Prices vary by device, software licence, mount type and whether voice banking is included. The MND Association loan bank and ACE Centre can supply devices free while an NHS CAT assessment is under way.
The problem
The right device, the right pathway, the right training.
Eye-gaze is one of the most transformative — and most poorly delivered — pieces of assistive technology in the UK. Wrong device, wrong pathway, no training. We fix all three before you commit.
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Not sure it is the right access method?
A proper SLT assessment considers eye, head, chin and switch access — and often ends up recommending a combination.
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Confused by NHS vs private?
We map the CAT pathway for your region, and set out the MND Association loan bank or private options honestly.
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Worried about learning curve?
Two to eight weeks of short daily sessions builds real fluency. Family and carer training makes or breaks it.
The journey
From referral to fluent use — what happens, in order.
One clinician from first message to review — including the training window that most services skip.
Phase 1 · Before assessment
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
The assessment and fitting
Phase 3 · After
Training and review
- 01
Before
You tell us what is going on
A short, confidential form. Diagnosis, current communication, motor and visual function, and what you would like to be able to do.
- 02
Before
We come back with a route
Within one working day: NHS CAT referral steps, charity loan-bank options (MND Association, ACE Centre), and indicative private pricing.
- 03
Before
SLT and CAT assessment arranged
A clinical assessment covering eye control, positioning, vision, cognition and language — plus a trial of two or three devices.
- 04
On the day
Device trial and calibration
One-eye or two-eye calibration, a 5–9 point routine, grid and phrase-bank setup, and a first pass at dwell or switch selection.
- 05
On the day
Mounting and positioning
Wheelchair, floor stand or bed mount fitted. Screen height, angle and lighting sorted so the eye tracker sees you reliably.
- 06
On the day
Voice banking, if there is time
For progressive conditions like MND we prioritise voice banking early — Acapela my-own-voice, ModelTalker or Google — while speech is still usable.
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After
Training, review and adjustment
Family and carer training, SLT follow-up, and adjustments as the condition changes — including a switch-scanning fallback if eye control tires.
NHS CAT end-to-end: 3–9 months in most regions. Private set-up: 2–4 weeks. Fluency: 2–8 weeks of practice.
When it helps
Who eye-gaze technology is really for.
The conditions we see most, plus the one situation where a different access method usually fits better.
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Motor neurone disease (MND / ALS)
As speech and hand function fade, eye-gaze keeps communication, computer access and environmental control on the table.
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Locked-in syndrome after brainstem injury
Full cognition with almost no voluntary movement — eye control is often the one route left for language and choice.
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Cerebral palsy with severe motor impairment
Where speech and hand access are unreliable, eye-gaze can open literacy, schooling and independent communication.
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High spinal cord injury (C1–C4)
Ventilator-dependent patients use eye-gaze for calls, messaging, computer work and smart-home control from the bed or chair.
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Late-stage muscular dystrophy
When switch and joystick access no longer works, eye-gaze can extend independent communication for years.
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Severe stroke with aphasia and hemiplegia
Selected patients with preserved language and eye control benefit from symbol and text AAC on an eye-tracker.
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Environmental control and wheelchair driving
IR blasters for TV and lights, smart-home integration, and — for the right user — eye-gaze powered-wheelchair driving.
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Not a fit: uncorrected severe visual loss
Dense cataract, active nystagmus or a prosthetic eye with no fellow-eye control may limit accuracy — a head-tracker or switch route may fit better.
Device options
A Tobii is not the only option.
What each option on the table actually involves — and which fits which situation.
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Standalone eye-gaze AAC device
Tobii Dynavox I-16, I-13, I-12+; Smartbox Grid Pad Eye 12/13; PRC Accent. Dedicated speech-generating hardware, ruggedised, wheelchair-mountable, NHS-fundable.
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Windows tablet with add-on eye tracker
Tobii Eye Tracker 5, EyeTech, or Irisbond clipped to a Surface or laptop, running Grid 3, Communicator 5 or Snap Core First. Cheaper, less rugged.
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Consumer eye tracker for accessibility
A Tobii Eye Tracker 5 with Windows Eye Control gives basic cursor and typing access — useful for gaming and light use, not a medical-grade solution.
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Head-tracking as an alternative
HeadMouse Nano, SmartNav or Quha Zono for users whose eye control is unreliable — a good option if the neck still has fine movement.
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Chin, switch or scanning fallback
Chin controllers and single-switch scanning stay important as a backup when fatigue, illness or progression makes eye-gaze harder for a while.
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Environmental control add-on
IR blasters, smart-plug integration and voice assistants (Alexa, Google) let the same device turn lights on, open doors and control the TV.
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Voice banking
Acapela my-own-voice, ModelTalker, or Google Speech-to-Speech — recorded while natural speech is still usable, then loaded onto the AAC device.
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Assessment only
An SLT AAC assessment with a trial of two or three devices — no obligation, and often the only step needed before an NHS CAT referral.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of AAC specialists, we picked them.
AAC-specialist speech and language therapists across the UK, working alongside NHS CAT services, MND Association, Sense and the ACE Centre. Introductions made privately, once we understand the case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every SLT in our network.
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RCSLT-registered speech and language therapists with AAC specialism
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Trial of at least two devices before any recommendation
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Independent of Tobii Dynavox, Smartbox and PRC — no sales commission
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Family and carer training built into every set-up
Realistic expectations
What eye-gaze can and can’t do — honestly.
Eye-gaze technology is remarkable, but it is not effortless. Fluency comes from practice, positioning matters, and a switch-scanning fallback is worth having from day one.
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Learning curve is two to eight weeks
Selection accuracy and speed improve steadily with practice. Short, frequent sessions beat long, exhausting ones.
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Fatigue is real — pace the sessions
Sustained eye-gaze use tires the eyes and the user. Early on, limit to 15–30 minute blocks with breaks.
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Lighting and positioning matter
Direct sunlight, backlighting and head slump all break tracking. A steady screen distance of 55–75 cm is a good starting point.
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Calibration drifts with head position
Recalibrate whenever the chair, bed or headrest changes. Save separate calibrations for bed and chair use.
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Eye conditions can limit accuracy
Nystagmus, severe ptosis, prosthetic eye or dense cataract may reduce reliability — one-eye calibration and dwell tuning help.
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Voice bank before speech is lost
For progressive conditions the window to record a personal synthetic voice is short. Do it early, not once speech has already gone.
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Have a switch fallback ready
Illness, tiredness or progression can knock eye-gaze out for days at a time. A single switch with row-column scanning keeps communication going.
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Ongoing SLT support is not optional
Grids, phrase banks and access settings need updating as the user changes. NHS CAT services and community SLT provide this — plan for it.
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Red flags
Sudden loss of previously reliable accuracy, new double vision or a new eye-movement problem — arrange a same-week neurology or ophthalmology review.
Reading your AAC assessment
Your AAC report in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever device is prescribed, the report your SLT and CAT service send you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Clinical language is precise and can read coldly — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the report before the review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Diagnosis and access channels tried
Why AAC was needed — MND, cerebral palsy, locked-in syndrome — and which access methods (eye, head, switch) were trialled.
- 02 Technique
Device, software and calibration
Which hardware and software were prescribed, one-eye or two-eye calibration, dwell or switch selection, and mount type.
- 03 Findings
Grid design, vocabulary and voice
The symbol or text grid used, phrase banks loaded, voice-banking status, and environmental-control set-up.
- 04 Impression
Training plan and review timing
Read this first: how much practice is expected, who will train the family, and when the CAT or SLT review is booked.
Working alongside NHS commissioners and UK charities
NHS CAT services fund clinically indicated eye-gaze provision across the four nations. Charity loan banks bridge the gap while assessment is under way. We confirm the route before booking anything private.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about eye-gaze technology.
Quick answers on NHS pathway, cost, voice banking, alternatives and how long it takes to become fluent.
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What is eye-gaze technology and who is it for?
Eye-gaze uses an infrared camera under a screen to track where you are looking, so you can select letters, symbols and computer commands with your eyes. It is for people with severe motor impairment — most often MND, locked-in syndrome, cerebral palsy, high spinal cord injury or late-stage muscular dystrophy — where speech and hand access are no longer reliable.
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How do I get an eye-gaze device on the NHS?
The route is: GP referral to community speech and language therapy, then referral to your regional NHS CAT service (Communication Aids Technology). CAT services are commissioned by NHS England, NWSSP in Wales, SCTCI in Scotland and CATNI in Northern Ireland. Eligibility usually requires a progressive or persistent severe communication impairment with a clear need for high-tech AAC.
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How long does an NHS CAT referral take?
It varies by region, but assessment and provision commonly take three to nine months. For fast-moving conditions like MND, the MND Association loan bank and ACE Centre can bridge the gap while the NHS assessment is in progress.
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How much does a private eye-gaze system cost?
Roughly £4,000–£20,000 for the device, mount and software. A Windows tablet with an add-on Tobii Eye Tracker 5 or Irisbond and Grid 3 comes in at the lower end; a dedicated Tobii I-Series or PRC Accent at the top. We confirm a firm figure within one working day.
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What is voice banking and when should it be done?
Voice banking is recording your own voice so a synthetic version can be used on your AAC device later. For MND and other progressive conditions it should be done as early as possible — Acapela my-own-voice, ModelTalker and Google Speech-to-Speech all work, and the recording usually takes several sessions of one to two hours.
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What if eye control isn’t reliable enough?
Head-tracking (HeadMouse Nano, Quha Zono, SmartNav), chin controllers and single-switch scanning are all real alternatives. Many users end up with a primary eye-gaze route and a switch-scanning fallback for tired days.
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Can eye-gaze control the TV and lights?
Yes. Most AAC devices include an IR blaster and integrate with Alexa, Google or smart-home hubs, so the same eye-gaze system can turn on the TV, open blinds, unlock doors and call a carer.
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Does eye-gaze work with a prosthetic eye or nystagmus?
Often, yes — one-eye calibration handles a prosthetic eye or a very weak eye, and dwell-time tuning helps with mild nystagmus. Severe nystagmus, dense cataract or active ptosis can limit accuracy and a head-tracker may be a better fit.
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What ongoing support is needed?
A named speech and language therapist is essential — for grid updates, phrase banks, access-method tuning, and family training as the user’s condition changes. NHS CAT services provide device servicing and software updates; community SLT handles the day-to-day.
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