Head pointer

Also called Head stick, Head wand, Head-mounted pointer, Light pointer

A stick or a light on a headband, used to press keys and cells directly. Fifty years old, no battery, and still the right answer for some people.

What it is

A head pointer is a rod fixed to a headband or a cap, with a rubber tip, used to press keys, touch a screen or point at a board. A light pointer is the same idea with a small torch or laser, so the person points at a paper board and the partner reads where the dot lands.

It is the plainest form of direct selection for someone without usable hands, and it predates every camera and sensor in this library.

Who it can help

People with strong, controlled head and neck movement and no reliable hand access: some people with cerebral palsy, spinal injury or limb loss. It suits people who want something that cannot break, lose calibration or run out of charge, and it works on a paper communication board as well as a screen.

It is not for anyone with a weak neck, a painful neck, or a condition that will weaken it. It looks conspicuous, which matters to some people and not to others; ask, don't assume. Reaching the far side of a large board takes real effort, and the person's face is tilted down while they use it, which makes eye contact harder.

How it works

The pointer is fitted so its tip sits just above the board or screen when the head is at rest; the person then dips and turns to press. A conductive tip works a touch screen. A keyguard is a natural pairing, since the tip drops into a hole and cannot slide. Boards and screens are angled up towards the person, usually on a stand or a mount, so the neck is not bent down.

A light pointer removes the reach: the person points a beam at a cell and a partner or a light-sensing board reads it. Some people use a head pointer for typing and a light pointer for a wall chart across the room.

Getting started

A trial can be improvised in an afternoon: a firm headband, a length of dowel or a chopstick, tape, and a rubber pencil top. Angle a paper board at about 45 degrees and see whether the person can land on cells five centimetres square, and how long before the neck tires.

If it works, an occupational therapist can supply or make a proper one, fitted for length and angle, and a physiotherapist should check the neck. Add a keyguard to the tablet if the tip slides. And keep a light pointer in the bag as a low-tech backup for the paper board.

Where to get help

An occupational therapist can assess and fit a head pointer; ask via your GP or as part of an AAC assessment. The ACE Centre and CALL Scotland cover pointers in their access resources, and Communication Matters lists suppliers.