Everybody has something to say!:
Can't communicate fluently? Try Speech and Language therapy
By Carol Aloysius
Communicating with one another has never been so important as it is
today. Whether by talking to one another, or expressing our feelings on
paper, the need to connect is vital in a world where an increasing
number of persons, both young and old, are cut off from the rest of
society simply because they are unable to communicate effectively.
The problems that cause this communication breakdown may be as simple
as a stutter, or as in the case of those with aphasia, inability to
recall something that is right there at the tip of their tongues.
While the ability to communicate comes naturally to most people,
starting in infancy when a baby communicates his need for food by
crying, to the toddler who uses body language and draws on his limited
vocabulary to convey his feelings, there are others who are not so
lucky. For these persons, speech impediments caused by a cleft palate,
or brain damage or can make communication much more challenging a task.
Unless given the right support with early intervention and the correct
tools to deal with this particular speech deficiencies, it could end up
with such persons becoming frustrated, developing mental problems and
withdrawing into an isolated world of their own.
Rasangi Weerasekera, Speech and Language Therapist at the Sri
Jayewardenepura General Hospital fielded questions from the Sunday
Observer to explain how persons in her area of speciality can help
people with speech impediments and to overcome their problems.
Excerpts...
Q. Speech and Language Therapy is a relatively new field in
this country. Since many people are not familiar with this field could
you first tell us what it means?
A. Speech and language therapy is a growing profession in Sri
Lanka which will help you and your loved ones to overcome, manage and
bridge barriers through facilitating effective communication. A speech
disorder is a problem with fluency, voice and /or speech sounds of a
person which results with unclear speech.
A fluency disorder is an interruption in the flow or rhythm of speech
characterised by hesitation, repetitions or prolongations of sounds,
syllables, words or phrases as in the case of stammering, or
inappropriate rate/pace of speech as in cluttering. Also connected with
it is articulation and phonological disorders i.e. the difficulties or
variations with the way sounds are formed and strung together.
Q. So what is language disorder?
A. It is a problem with understanding and /or using spoken,
written and other symbol systems (i.e. gestures, signs etc).
The disorder may involve 1) the form of the language (phonology,
morphology, syntax) and 2) the content of the language (semantics) and
function of language (pragmatics) on communication in any combination.
Q. What is the task of a Speech and Language therapist in this
field?
A. Speech and language therapists are professionals with
specialised knowledge and skills who can diagnose, evaluate and provide
clinical services encompassing a range of communication (speech,
language, voice and fluency) and swallowing difficulties to people of
all ages, thus enabling them to function to the best of their ability.
Q. So they work with other related specialities or on their
own?
A. They work in close liaison with ENT, neurology, and
paediatric health professionals, and with professionals in the education
field.
Q. Where can you access their help?
A. You may access Speech and language therapy services in a
variety of settings including government and private hospitals, medical
rehabilitation facilities, pre-schools, mainstream and special schools,
and private practice settings.
Q. Why do you think the ability to communicate is important to
us?
A. Being able to communicate is of paramount importance to
everyone.
However unfortunately, it is not uncommon for children as well as
adults to experience problems in communication. In fact, understandably
it must be overwhelming for persons to function in their day to day
lives when communication with loved ones, peers and superiors does not
come as easily.
Q. So how does Speech and Language therapy help?
A. By bridging barriers through facilitating effective
communication. As I said earlier, Speech and language therapists are
professionals with specialised knowledge and skills who can diagnose,
evaluate and provide clinical services encompassing a range of
communication (speech, language, voice and fluency) and swallowing
difficulties to people of all ages, thus enabling them to function to
the best of their ability.
Q. Do you use similar methods for children and adults?*
A. The methods used for children is different from those used
on adults.
For one thing, children are still acquiring speech whereas in the
case of adults who have lost their speech due to stroke, dementia,
Parkinson's disease etc, already had these skills and we only need to
rehabilitate them.. In the case of children we call it habilitation -
i.e. helping them to develop language and speech capacities with
simulative activities.
Which is why we tell their parents that they must interact with their
children from infancy especially those with speech and language
problems, and not put them in front of the TV. which is certainly not
the answer.
Furthermore, exploring the field of communication disorders, firstly,
speech and language difficulties in children may present merely as a
common developmental delay.
Nevertheless it is advisable that parents seek help and receive
adequate support about how best to enrich the communication environment
for their children in order to stimulate speech and language
acquisition.
Q. How do speech and language difficulties manifest
themselves?
A. Speech and language difficulties in both children and
adults may often manifest secondary to developmental disorders, impaired
hearing, autism, syndromic conditions such as Down syndrome, learning
difficulties, cleft lip and cleft palate, and neurological conditions
such as stroke, Parkinsonism, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury
etc. Voice problems may also cause worry and apprehension among many
occupational voice users such as teachers, lecturers, clergy and
singers.
Q. What is the kind of therapy given them?
A. Usually it is not just one method, but many methods adapted
to the person's needs and abilities. A Speech and language therapist
would first conduct a comprehensive evaluation and implement abilities.
It is not only the techniques that count. There are also underlying
problems such as anxieties, fears, low esteem that need to be addressed
when you treat a person with speech and language problems. All of them
have to be addressed as well or else the patient can suffer from
frustration and mental problems and have a low self esteem.
Q. What about stammers? Do your methods help to cure them?
A. With regard to communication, stammering is the most common
reason for dysfluency or disrupted forward flow of speech. It is however
common for children to stammer till they are about five years old. But
if this condition continues into their adulthood it is often not easy to
cure them... But we use various approaches and techniques such as
breathing techniques, easy onset and flowing (to make the words flow)
etc to help them.
Q. Why is correct breathing so important to overcome a speech
impediment?
A. It is important to note that speech is not only limited to
the mouth area.
To breathe correctly one must breathe from the diaphragm. People who
are tense don't breathe properly using only a small portion of their
lungs.
Using diaphragmatic breathing will help them create more space in
their chest cavity for the lungs to expand. It is important to
understand that although there is as yet no cure, stammering can
nevertheless be successfully managed with proper support.
Q. In addition to communication, some people also have
swallowing disorders. What is the cause for such disorders? Can Speech
and Language therapy help them as well?
A. Swallowing disorders is another broad area where speech and
language therapists practice clinical services. Swallowing difficulties
[RNA3]; most commonly arise as a result of stroke, and neurological
degenerative conditions as well as head and neck surgery.
Q. Have you any advice to give our readers?
A. Early systematic intervention is always the best for better
outcomes in communication, literacy and cognition, as well as
swallowing. This applies to both children and adults.
Consequently, the ultimate goal of Speech and language therapy is to
enhance lifelong well-being of all those who are affected with
communication and swallowing difficulties.
As I treat mostly adults, I have found that in the case of people who
have suffered stroke where the language area can be damaged, the first
six months is critical for intervention.
Q. Why?
A. Because the neural-connections adapt quickly. So we need to
treat them with effective techniques to overcome the problem before the
brain gets accustomed to maladaptive ways.
The role of the therapist is to use therapy along with other options
that can strengthen their existing skills.
Freshwater turtles from wetlands can transmit Salmonella to humans
Following studies of 200 specimens of freshwater turtles from 11
Valencian wetland areas, to determine the prevalence of Salmonella and
Campylobacter in these animals, Professors from the University CEU
Cardenal Herrera explained of a potential risk of the turtles
transmitting gastrointestinal diseases to humans, especially children.
According to the results, 11 percent of the analysed specimens of
freshwater turtles were found positive for Salmonella.
However, Campylobacter was not detected in any of them. This is the
first study to rule out terrapins as transmitters of campylobacteriosis
to humans. The research group has used specimens of the native Emys
orbicularis and of the exotic species Trachemys scripta elegans, found
in eleven wetlands of the Valencian Region (Spain), including the
marshes of Pego-Oliva, Xeraco, Cabanes or Peníscola, among others.
In eight of the eleven wetlands the researchers found terrapins
carriers of the bacteria Salmonella with moderate prevalence but none
with the Campylobacter bacteria.
As pointed out by Prof of Veterinary Clara Marín, who led the study,
campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis are common infections in humans:
there have been 212,064 cases of the first and 99,020 cases of the
second registered in the European Union during past year. Moreover, both
are the two most frequent zoonosis worldwide, and thus represent an
important public health problem in many countries which are interested
in designing methods of preventing transmission of these infections from
animals to humans. Salmonella can cause human gastroenteritis and
meningitis, especially in children and elderly. Complications of
campylobacteriosis can lead to arthritis and other diseases.
While previous studies had confirmed the risk of transmitting
Salmonella in the case of pet turtles, in higher percentages than those
recorded in this research, there are few studies on wild ones.
The project of the University CEU Cardenal Herrera is the first to
extend the analysis to the prevalence of Campylobacter in these wild
animals. Another novel aspect of the study was the combination of three
different samples. The work has shown that collecting water samples
where the turtles have remained for 48 hours after capture is as
effective as sacrificing them or taking swabs directly from the rectum.
This finding is especially helpful for sampling protected species.
- MNT
Medication with allergist can help lessen asthma attacks
Can't find relief from your asthma symptoms? The way you communicate
with your allergist can be the root of your problems.
According to two papers published in Annals of Allergy, Asthma and
Immunology, for treatment to be effective, asthma sufferers need to ask
questions and feel as if they have open communication with their
allergist.
"When patients do not understand their condition or treatment plan,
they may not follow life-saving guidelines, putting them at increased
risk for asthma attacks," said allergist Stanley Fineman, article
author. "Changes need to be made by allergists and patients to ensure a
treatment plan is in place that will be followed. Proper treatment and
adherence to the plan not only improves quality of life, but may save
lives."
Dr. Fineman noted that only eight to 13 percent of asthma sufferers
continue to refill inhaled corticosteroid prescriptions after one year.
Taken early and as directed, these inhalers can improve asthma control,
normalise lung function and even prevent irreversible injury to airways.
Asthma is responsible for 4,000 deaths annually, according to ACAAI. The
number of Americans with asthma grows every year, and currently affects
26 million Americans.
The greatest rise in asthma rates is among African American children,
which doubled from 2001 to 2009. "Our research found many African
American asthma sufferers believed they had a better understanding of
their asthma triggers and treatment as they reached young adulthood,"
said allergist Alan Baptist, MD, and senior study author. "However, many
do not manage their condition as advised, which can lead to increased
asthma attacks and emergency room visits.
Allergists need to communicate the importance of continuing
medication, and patients should express any concerns they might have,
such as taking medication in public, since there are often solutions.
Additionally, providing adequate education and addressing specific
barriers that young African American adults have in asthma management
may decrease health care disparities and improve outcomes."
Although symptoms can become better with time, asthma is a chronic
illness.
Unless directed by a physician, asthma patients should never change
or discontinue preventive medications, and should always keep an
adequate supply available.
"Asthma is a serious disease and discontinuing treatment can be
dangerous," said Dr. Fineman. "Sufferers need to be sure they regularly
take medication and that all of their concerns are being addressed."
- MNT
|