tactile sensory aid

a device that makes use of touch to help individuals cope with a hearing or visual impairment. An example of a tactile sensory aid is a vibrator that cues a person with hearing loss that the doorbell is ringing. Other aids provide assistance with reading, and a number of electronic travel aids facilitate orientation and mobility for people with visual impairment. Although tactile sensory aids are also called tactile aids, the latter term is sometimes used more explicitly to refer only to devices that convert auditory information into patterns of skin stimulation—either vibratory (for a vibrotactile aid) or electrical (for an electrotactile aid)—for use in communicating with and teaching speech production to people with profound hearing loss. See also tactual display.

Browse dictionary by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Psychology term of the day

March 14th 2025

frigidity

n. in women, impairment of sexual desire or inability to achieve sexual arousal or orgasm. This term is considered offensive and has largely been abandoned in favor of female sexual dysfunction. —frigid adj.