Simple Yes-or-No Signals Can Help Hospitals Communicate With Nonverbal Patients
Photographer and artist Jessica Irwin, who is nonverbal because cerebral palsy affects the muscles she needs to speak, says a communication device cannot match the speed or range of speech—and that the gap can leave people unable to express urgent needs. In her TED talk, she argues that being unable to speak is not evidence of impaired intelligence and urges people, especially medical staff, to address nonverbal patients directly and establish simple ways to communicate.
TED·Nov 6, 2026·4 min read
