disorders

When the means of treatment for speech disorders do not work, it remains for us to resort to means to bridge this gap. How do we communicate despite speech disorders? Get to know the means of communication: what are they? And in what cases do we resort to it?

Helpful communication

In this chapter, we will talk about those for whom speech training efforts did not succeed, and we will try to find another way for them, using whatever abilities they have to reach the goal of communicating with others.

These capabilities may be

hand signs.

Facial expressions and gestures, including the eyes.

Sounds that replace words.

Voices that express discomfort.

What are the cases in which we resort to the means of assistive communication?

These include

1. Aphasia: the inability to understand, express, read or write.

2. Dysarthria: A person''s muscular ability is affected as a result of a defect in the central or peripheral nervous system or both, which leads to poor functioning of the speech muscles or voice production.

or breathing muscles.

3. Apraxia: the lack of control over the production of speech voluntarily as a result of the inability to coordinate between the nervous and muscular systems.

4. Glossectomy: due to cancer.

5. Dysphonia: Organic problems with the voice system (larynx), including its removal, which makes it impossible to produce a sound.

6. Mental retardation: especially severe.

7. Autism in children: refusal to communicate with others.

8. Tracheostomy: An opening in the trachea for the purpose of breathing.

9. Deafness or deafness and blindness.

What are the procedures followed in the previous cases?

Determine the type of aid.

Securing the necessary tools - if required.

Do patient training to use it.

Continuous follow-up.

In order to reach an objective and positive assessment, we need to answer the following questions:

1. What is the cause of the person''s communication problem? Is it permanent or temporary?

2. How does it affect sensory and cognitive functions?

3. To what extent does it affect the psychological aspect?

4. How does the person communicate at the moment?

In speech (abnormal), in writing (the ability to type). The ability to gesture and understand it, the ability to understand speech and reading.

5. What is a person''s communication need?

Face to face contact.

by phone.

by typing.

6. What is the state of the person''s internal, receptive and transmitting language?

How is the appropriate type of method determined?

You must first evaluate

1. Motor performance: all four limbs - torso - face - neck.

2. Sensory functions: hearing - sight - nervous system.

3. Cognitive functions: especially for the mentally handicapped and for the elderly who suffer from aging diseases (Alzheimer''s disease - atherosclerosis).

The accuracy of the assessment prevents the patient from becoming frustrated because of the attempt to teach him to use one of the methods and his failure to do so as a result of a deficiency in one or more functions.

What are the helpful communication methods?

1. By gesture such as deaf gestures with the hand, face or eyes.

2. By means of simple symbols, tools or devices that do not require patient intervention.

3. By complex electronic devices that do not require patient intervention.

It is true that speech therapy sessions will always remain the main enabler for the rehabilitation of cases of speech and speech disorders, but the support of advanced technology for the work of a speech therapist can add a lot in terms of increased efficiency and a significant shortening of time, and access to skills and extraordinary progress in raising the adequacy of communication and communication processes.