6 replies to this topic

[alabemos]

Thank God for the internet. I need some help. I'm a missionary to the deaf in a developing (aka "3rd world") country. I have learned of a deaf man who recently became a quadriplegic. He was injured two weeks ago in a motorcycle accident. (Almost no one uses helmets here.) He is currently in intensive care.

He is the second deaf person I've known of here, that became a quad. The first one lived about two weeks. I visited him in the ICU, and all they had done was put a neck brace on him like you would put on a whiplash victim. They don't have the equipment or the expertise to deal with this kind of injury here. At the time I visited this man he was actually dead. They still had him on a respirator, but the nurses aren't allowed to pronounce death, and there was no doctor present in the ICU for at least 6 hours.

That gives you an idea of the kind of care this man can expect. I doubt if he will live very long. It's way out of my league to try to fix the issues of national poverty and its resulting deficiencies in the health care system. Nevertheless, my concern is that at least while he is alive, he be able to participate in life. The big issue in that is that he is deaf, and illiterate. He is in his 30's. His communication before the accident was completely via sign language. He does not speak intelligibly. His mom is there beside him. She wipes his brow, etc. But he can't talk to her, nor she to him. (Even before his accident this was true to a large extent.)

I will be visiting him later this week, and would like to know what I can bring with me that might be a help for him. I am thinking that there should be some way to make up a picture communication system which will at least allow him some expression. What needs to be on it? I'm thinking of pictures of family and friends, to indicate he wants to know about or see them. Also something to indicate hunger or thirst. What else? Typical of developing country deaf people, he cannot read or write, although he may spell some names, so mostly it will have to be picture based. He is in his thirties. His family doesn't have the resources to buy any of the special equipment he will need for communication or life in general. I know this, because if they did, he would be in a private hospital with much better services.

I'm aware that there are things like boardmaker, but there is simply no money for that. Even if there were, he needs something for the present, because getting something like that in here would take weeks.

The other issue is that I have to believe he must be incredibly bored, (unless they are keeping him sedated, which afaik they aren't.) The only thing I know is that his deaf friends can visit and talk to him during visiting hours. They tell me he can respond as usual with his facial expression and some head movement, to indicate understanding or emotional reaction, but of course for him to express his own thoughts more deeply would basically mean playing 20 questions. Does anyone have any suggestions for activities to keep him from being bored out of his mind?

He is in a ward where there are several beds, even though it is an ICU. I imagine they will send him home before long, though, and at that point he may at least have a TV.

So in review, 1. What kinds of things will he need/want to communicate? 2. What kind of activities can he participate in? 3. Any other suggestions?

I will appreciate any help you can give. And no, I'm not making this up.

[StillFingers]

An interesting set of very tough issues to overcome, as far as a communications device, give the folks at Harris Communications a call; see link below, they have a lot of specialty equipment for the deaf.

Harris Communications
http://www.harriscomm.com/

Perhaps making a set of flashcards with pictures on them might be an initial solution...a point-n-shoot camera, small photo printer and photo paper, 4x6 inch, might help you create/produce this onsite, at the individual's home, making the flashcards more personal/familiar.

Here's a possible digital camera/printer solution that might work for the flashcards, it's light weight, small and fairly easy on the wallet as well...if you already have a cell/mobile phone that takes pictures and can connect to a printer, use it instead of a digicam. You might also consider a small portable photo album, one that easily lets a quadriplegic flip through the photos/flashcards...

Canon PowerShot A1100IS
http://www.amazon.co...66788307&sr=8-2

Canon SELPHY CP760 Compact Photo Printer
http://www.amazon.co...6788074&sr=1-12

Pioneer DA-46CBF Mini Fabric Album 4x6 (24 photos)
http://www.amazon.co...6789518&sr=8-45

Good luck, I'll keep looking for other possible solutions.

Jerry

Edited by StillFingers, 21 February 2010 - 10:05 PM.

[Texas Angel Ang]

FLASHCARDS FLASHCARDS FLASHCARDS... that is what I had to use right after my accident when I was in ICU because I had tubes down my throat.

My parents/friends made a "list" on a piece of paper 1-10 of basic needs. They would point to each item and I would blink to answer them, one blink yes... 2 blinks no. After a while they wrote out the alphabet and we did the same thing... eventually They learned to read my lips (I learned to read lips as well which comes in pretty handy nowadays lol)

if he is bored try teaching him NEW THINGS. Maybe this is an open door for him to be educated more!

Good luck and keep us posted. Hope that helps!

[alabemos]

Thanks for your suggestions. I do have a camera and printer, so I will take your advice, Jerry, & TX Angel, and get to work on some flashcards. I will make up some of the first ones, and encourage the parents to get to work on additional flashcards or picture albums as the need develops.

[Texas Angel Ang]

Awesome, I think it's great that you are helping out! If I can come up with any more ideas I will let you know. Keep us posted.

[Rose Grant]

Well I'm not a quad but my friend is (that would make an awesome t shirt)...Anyways, I also sign fluently and have spent a lot of time with deaf people. It is crucial that his friends come to see him....Deaf people can talk with just there eyes (even without blinking).

Can he move his eyebrows?

Usually in the deaf community a frowned eyebrow is a "who" "what" "where" "why" question. Upraised eyebrows is a "yes" or "no" question. So if you ask him if he wants some juice by showing him a picture and he frowns he's maybe asking you "What juice? they haven't brought any juice into the room today"

Or if you show him a picture of his friend and he raises his eyebrows (Yes or No question) this may mean "Is he coming to visit?" BUT if he makes a frown it may mean "what happened to him?"