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Assistive Devices
URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/assistivedevices.html

Assistive Devices

Also called: Assistive technology

Summary

What are assistive devices?

Assistive devices are tools, products, or equipment that can help you perform tasks and activities. They may help you move around, see, communicate, eat, or get dressed.

Who might benefit from assistive devices?

You may use various assistive devices if you:

  • Have a disability or injury
  • Have certain health conditions such as dementia, or if you've had a stroke
  • Are an older adult

You might use an assistive device for a short time or long term. Others might use them throughout their lifespan.

How can assistive devices help?

Some assistive devices are high-tech tools, such as computers. Others are much simpler, like a "reacher," a tool that helps you grab an object you can't reach.

There are a variety of assistive devices or tools available that may be used to help you to:

  • Communicate, see, or hear better
  • Perform daily activities
  • Move by using a wheelchair, walker, or another mobility device
  • Cook or eat
  • Dress or groom yourself
  • Improve your memory or attention
  • Be more active
  • Participate in educational activities

Assistive devices may also be used to make changes to your physical environment so it is easier to move or care for yourself. This can include adding ramps or grab bars.

Learn More

  • Assistive Devices for People with Hearing, Voice, Speech, or Language Disorders From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders)
  • Assistive Devices: Positioning Aids (Slideshow) Easy-to-Read (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
  • How Does Rehabilitative Technology Benefit People with Disabilities? From the National Institutes of Health (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
  • Rehabilitation Engineering: What is Rehabilitation Engineering? From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering) Also in Spanish
  • Rehabilitative and Assistive Technology: Overview From the National Institutes of Health (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
  • Speech to Speech Relay Service (Federal Communications Commission)
  • The WREX Orthosis: Assistive Device (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
  • Travelers with Disabilities and Medical Conditions (Transportation Security Administration)
  • What Are Some Types of Assistive Devices and How Are They Used? From the National Institutes of Health (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
  • What Are Some Types of Rehabilitative Technologies? From the National Institutes of Health (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

  • Article: Codesigning Solutions for Assistive Technology Service Provision in Queensland, Australia.
  • Article: The impact of transformational leadership on the workplace well-being of employees...
  • Article: Identification of needs for an assistive robotic arm in individuals with...
  • Assistive Devices -- see more articles

Patient Handouts

  • Home Healthcare Medical Devices: A Checklist (Food and Drug Administration)

Topic Image

Assistive devices

Related Health Topics

  • Artificial Limbs
  • Cochlear Implants
  • Disabilities
  • Eye Wear
  • Hearing Aids
  • Medical Device Safety
  • Mobility Aids
  • Rehabilitation

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Assistive Devices is the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Disclaimers

MedlinePlus links to health information from the National Institutes of Health and other federal government agencies. MedlinePlus also links to health information from non-government Web sites. See our disclaimer about external links and our quality guidelines.

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.

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