The Chattervox is a portable voice amplifier from EnableMart that can boost sound by 18 decibels. This piece of assistive technology is useful for people who have difficulty speaking loudly or are anxious about speaking in front of other people.
It comes with a rechargeable lumbar pack amplifier and speaker unit along with your choice of microphone. It’s easy to use. You charge the device overnight, put on the pack and the mircrophone and plug in the lumbar pack. Then you adjust the volume and you’re good to go! The batteries typically stay charged for 14 hours; you can even substitute AA batteries if you forget to recharge the Chattervox overnight. The device has an ergonomic design, so it’s comfortable to wear all day long. It’s usually worn at the waist with a nylon wristband that is included in the pack.
When you purchase the Chattervox, you can select one of four microphones to use.
- Collar Microphone. This microphone wraps around your neck and doesn’t touch your head or hair. The actual microphone can be positioned in front of your mouth.
- Headset Microphone. This one wraps around the over an ear and around the back of your head and over your ear. Once again the microphone is positioned in front of the mouth.
- Pencil Microphone. The microphone you must physically hold up to your mouth. It’s actually pencil-sized and is small and lightweight. It includes an on/off switch.
- Transdermal Microphone. This microphone is meant for esophageal speakers (people who make sound when air is injected into the upper esophagus and then released in a controlled manner). It’s worn around the neck and the microphone rests on your neck for more sensitive response.