Intubation

A medical procedure in which a tube is inserted through the mouth or nose into the trachea (windpipe) to maintain an open airway and assist with mechanical ventilation. Intubation renders patients unable to speak because the tube passes through or bypasses the vocal cords. In intensive care settings, intubated patients experience a temporary but acute communication disability, requiring augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) solutions to express basic needs, feelings, and questions to medical staff and family. This population has unique AAC needs compared to users with permanent communication disabilities, as they need devices that are immediately usable without training and that accommodate physical weakness and cognitive impairment from medication.