How voice-to-text technology improved my daily life with SMA
With the right tools in place, muscle weakness won't keep me from my goals
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“Spinal muscular atrophy golf tournament,” I spoke into my voice-to-text software. It was late at night, and I was physically drained. As a result, I knew my speech wouldn’t be very articulate. Nevertheless, I persisted in trying to accomplish some of my tasks for my nonprofit’s upcoming charity golf tournament. When I saw what was translated back to me, I couldn’t help but giggle.
”Spinal muscular atrophy causes torment,” the software spat out at me. Perhaps it was because I was overtired, or maybe it was simply the fact that SMA does cause torment sometimes, but this had me laughing out loud. Rather than trying to correct it with my voice, I opted for my trusted backup: the on-screen keyboard.
I’ve been using voice-to-text software for about a year now. While it doesn’t understand me 100% of the time, this one small change has completely shifted the way I work.
Due to the natural progression of my disease, the way I type has changed over the years. During my school days, I was able to balance my left thumb on the edge of the keyboard and type with one finger. Eventually, technology advanced, and the on-screen keyboard was invented. This allowed me to use my mouse instead.
Then, about 10 years ago, I switched to using my iPhone keyboard, which was wirelessly connected to my laptop. Unfortunately, this method has become more tiresome for me in recent months.
Living with SMA, energy is currency. Every task, movement, and decision isn’t about whether I want to do it. Instead, it’s about navigating my daily energy limit and figuring out whether my body can handle it. This can feel both frustrating and discouraging when even the simplest tasks seem daunting on low-energy days.
So when typing became one of the biggest culprits of my fatigue last year, I panicked.
As a columnist for SMA News Today, typing is literally my job. Before every column, I’d have to put heating pads on my arm, ask for massages, and take writing breaks every half-hour. When I wasn’t writing columns, I was asking others to help me answer emails and complete other tasks that required typing. Physically, I was in a slump, and not having the energy to type felt unsustainable and overwhelming. I knew I had to make a change.
A game-changer
With my tenacious personality and determination to find a solution, I discovered a voice-to-text tool with built-in artificial intelligence (AI). It was designed to help people streamline their workflow and become more efficient at their jobs.
But for someone like me with a disability, it was a game-changer.
Given my muscle weakness, I sometimes have trouble enunciating and articulating words, especially when I feel more tired than usual. My voice is also weak and quiet to begin with. But the AI feature can guess what I’m saying even if it can’t understand every word.
Now, instead of my arms fighting through fatigue, my thoughts flow more naturally. Ideas come out faster than I could ever type. Tasks that once felt daunting have become more manageable as my energy has lasted longer. But most importantly, I’ve started regaining my independence.
No longer battling physical exhaustion or relying on others to get my thoughts on-screen, I’m able to work, create, and communicate on my own terms. The software may not be perfect and still causes me torment sometimes (pun intended), but it was exactly what I was looking for during a dark time.
Tools like voice-to-text aren’t built only for convenience. For people with disabilities, it’s about our livelihood. It’s about preserving energy, maintaining independence, and continuing to contribute in meaningful ways.
SMA may change how I do things, but it doesn’t change my drive to do them. Fortunately, with the right tools in place, I don’t have to choose between my health and my goals.
I can have both.
Note: SMA News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of SMA News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to spinal muscular atrophy.
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