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Aids For Communicating With Hospitalized People?
Posted by
kdawson
on Sun Aug 19, 2007 07:03 AM
from the hawking's-computer dept.
from the hawking's-computer dept.
charliezcc writes "My grandmother recently fell and broke two vertebrae (among other things) and is in the hospital while she recovers. Thankfully, she was not paralyzed and retains the use of her limbs. However, they have placed her on a respirator and she is virtually unable to communicate with us, so while we try to keep her company during her recovery, our company is reduced to mainly one-sided conversations. Asking her questions, even yes/no questions, is hard because of the neck brace — it turns into a guessing game and very quickly becomes frustrating for both parties. I'm a firm believer in the power of positive mental attitudes and to make her recovery a little better and I'd like to be able to facilitate two-sided conversations with her so she can keep positive. Keeping in mind that she does not have much technology experience, what would you suggest I utilize to ease the communication barrier? I remember seeing devices with a number of buttons that say whatever you program it to say, but I can't find these anymore. What other kind of devices are available?"
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A Low tech solution (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:A Low tech solution (Score:4, Funny)
Parent
Re:A Low tech solution (Score:5, Funny)
Parent
Can she move her hands ? (Score:4, Informative)
Re: (Score:2)
That's what I was going to suggest. Also check with the attending; if the hospital has an ER and/or trauma center, they will likely have many of these communication boards available. Ask the attending or nurse for one.
Stay low-tech, for the sake of your grandmother. The last thing she probably wants right now is to be forced to use a computer to communicate.
About the only time I'd recommend using any kind of tech would be if she can use her hands, but can't use them to point. That is, if she can press a
Dasher - 1 finger text entry (Score:3, Interesting)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dasher [wikipedia.org]
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5078334075 080674416&q=dasher+google+tech+talk&total=2&start= 0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0 [google.com]
But if she can still write, that will be even better and faster.
Bed Time (Score:4, Funny)
you could try these (Score:4, Informative)
eLocutor (Score:3, Informative)
I don't know the field at all and I don't know eLocutor but from an article. Maybe it has a huge learning curve and is thus inappropriate as a short-term solution.
Signalling yes and no (Score:3, Interesting)
Or better, give her a chart of the Sign Language Alphabet [wikipedia.org]. With that she can say anything, if she and her listener both have enough patience. With that she could sign "Y" for yes and "N" for no, and in many cases choose among alternatives with just an initial letter.
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
As someone who knows.... (Score:2, Insightful)
Here's the catch though. If she's on a respirator, she's under some level of sedation. She might be pretty awake and all, but she's unlikely to remember much (if anything) while she's on the respirator. (Respirator's are not fun to the body)
Old Topic, new answers (Score:4, Insightful)
I used to be a Sp.Ed teacher working with severe autistics (which has really made me a great member of a dev team). I had many students who could communicate, but did not have the fine motor skills to speak. High tech is sometimes more than you need. I know you're willing to spend whatever it takes for your grandmother, but in this case, a little time investment may be wiser than a cash investment.
My first suggestion is American Sign Language [wikipedia.org] With a minimal amount of effort you can be communicating simply, and there's no reason to not spend more time learning more and stepping up to high end communication. I find ASL so useful that I've taught it to my friends for communication in loud bars, silent communication in meetings, secret messages we wish to pass in a room full of people, etc.
In terms of full fledged speakers, since you are not looking for a permanent solution, I'd recommend just using a OSX notebook. Open up the terminal, and type 'say hello world' You get the hang of it really quickly. On the windows side, Read Please [readplease.com] is quite competent, and has a 30 day free trial period. Plus there is probably wifi in the hospital...
If you don't have a laptop that she can use, I would suggested printed boards. The 800 lbs gorilla in the field is Mayer-Johnson [mayer-johnson.com]. Look around their products and see if maybe you can get away with something like their Picture Exchange Communication System [mayer-johnson.com]. Essentially they are cards with pictures on them that can be used for communication. It's not a great system for an adult, but if you need something temporary it's only $179.
I wish your Grandmother a speedy recovery.
Re: (Score:2, Informative)
Seriously.
Take a look at EmacsSpeak [cornell.edu], which handles text to speech (as well as speech to text).
Having said that, if nodding and shaking her head are too much; I doubt typing will be an option either. I think one of the lower tech solutions are more likely to be useful. Good luck!
Ummm.... (Score:2)
For those who can't do this, they have systems out there that allow you to spell words just by looking at the letters and blinking, which then convert to speech.
Etch-a-sketch? (Score:2)
Low-tech solutions sometimes are the best... What about a small piece of whiteboard or the paper/cardboard idea mentioned before?
Other ideas include an Ouija board.
Read to her? (Score:5, Insightful)
Think low-tech, not high (Score:3, Insightful)
Pen and paper
There's no need to go any higher-tech than that, because you would have to teach her how to use the device instead of using her existing knowledge of how to write.
Aids?? (Score:2)
Low Tech (Score:4, Insightful)
Consult your hospital, they often have little message boards. There are some that have a little flip chart at the top, divided into functional categories like "I feel.. (sleepy, nauseous, good, thirsty etc.)" I want (water, pain meds, bedpan, etc.)" and then it has an alphabet at the bottom to spell out words that aren't on the chart, along with a list of common words so she doesn't have to spell them out (it, and, the, etc.).
If she can write, I recommend a "Magna-Doodle" pad. Very easy to use, clears with a push of the lever, designed for little kids so it's easy to use even for someone weak and incapacitated. Get a big Magna-doodle pad, that makes it easier to write long messages, or write big if you have poor motor control.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
What CAN she do? (Score:2)
If you want a solution, you need to give more infor on her ability.
Paper and pencil? (Score:3, Insightful)
Why must hi-tech be the answer?
Why not use paper and pencil?
Are her hands free? She can gesture yes and no in a way that you can tell her to.
Re:Paper and pencil? (Score:4, Funny)
Low tech is handled by luddite.org.
Parent
Re: (Score:2)
Ummm, seems like it has no content, parked domain...
Joking aside
His Grandma is not tech savvy, nor in a position to learn tech stuff in that situation. So the path of least resistance is to use low tech
a sign (Score:2)
People were impressed with it, but it's bloody obvious.
Re: (Score:2)
low-tech (Score:2)
Keeping in mind that she does not have much technology experience, what would you suggest I utilize to ease the communication barrier? I remember seeing devices with a number of buttons that say whatever you program it to say, but I can't find these anymore. What other kind of devices are available?
Please accept my heart-felt best wishes for your grandmother's speedy recovery. (My mom was on a respirator for a couple weeks and it was difficult.) I also commend you for being pro-active about trying to find ways to help her.
As a card-carrying nerd, I immediately thought of high-tech solutions to the problem of my Mom's inability to talk. It bothered her and I wanted to find a way so she could TALK. As I ran through one possibility after another, I found that elegance and complexity is not necess
No high tech, in this case (Score:2)
Now long term, it's possible to do something tying muscle-control to a light, for example, but where you are now, keep it simple. She's hurting and feeling out of control.
And good luck to her!
Augmentative and alternative communication (Score:2, Informative)
This is exactly what I do for a living.
Consider how long her recovery is expected to last. If she will be off the vent and speaking soon, you probably can make do with some low-tech solution or a stock laptop. A whiteboard and/or a cardboard alphabet and some immediately useful messages.
If it is going to be a while (more than a couple weeks) insist that the speech therapist at the hospital see her. Insurance will pay for speech therapy if you go the "Communication allows for active participation in care
use your cell phone by setting ring tones (Score:2)
So, on a modern mobile phone, record your voice for YES and NO and label them so they show up in the top of the list. Then, practice making it play each ringtone with the up/down buttons and then show/teach your grandma how to touch the buttons to "talk".
You can add
Cruelty (Score:2)
What a cruel and unusual punishment, and I thought communicating with hospitalized people was regarded as something desirable.
What are you thinking? Have some common sense. (Score:4, Insightful)
If your grandmother is on a respirator, the last thing she needs is for someone to interrogate her. She's your grandmother, not a dying secret agent.
Listen, just be with her where she can see you. Read a book. Hold her hand. Talk gently to her. Tell her that you're there. Tell her who is in the room with her. Tell her who is coming to see her. Tell her about news in the family. Tell her what your children have been up to.
You know, things people have done for thousands of years to comfort their loved ones who have fallen ill?
Turn off your ipod and your blackberry and think a little, man. Technology may not cause cancer, but apparently it has an affect on common sense.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
You sir have no idea what you are talking about. I had a close family member who was unable to communicate for weeks (among other disabilities). She said that was absolutely the worst part of her hospital experience.
Talking to a person who wants to talk back is little comfort. Being unable to communicate is being in prison, solitary confinement, whether
Chart and pointer (Score:2)
Find a good lipreader (Score:2)
I have an oral deaf friend (lipreads and speaks) who regularly interprets at her local hospital in this sort of scenario. I think she even did a research project on this topic.
Depending on where you are, you might be able to find a non-professional who is willing to help out once in a while. The hospital's interpreter service might be a good place to start. If they don't have an explicit person with this skill sometimes oral interpreters are decent lipreaders. Note that I'm stressing "oral" - these are not
Ouija board (Score:2)
Hands (Score:2)
The ones on the end of her arms. Teach her (and you) American Sign Language. Prop up a page with the alphabet on it, and maybe a few one-handed, more useful signs (yes, no, etc.) and have at it. It's cheaper, it's easier to learn (compared to a non-techie trying to learn tech), and it's useful outside this particular need. Learning is good for older brains, and learning a language, with motor skills involved, sounds like excellent mental exercise to me.
And imagine
Not nearly techy enough (Score:2)
Really only TWO options available (Score:5, Insightful)
As far as having his GRANDMOTHER learn any new technological choices, while in a hospital, sedated, on a ventilator, in a neck brace - FORGET IT. She's not gonna learn sign language easily, except yes/no. If she can't even write, because of medication/delirium/whatever, then she's not going to be able to learn new ways of communicating.
Sounds like she's an old lady, and somewhat frail like many older people. Becoming intubated for a vertebrae fracture is not normal, so I think she probably has multiple medical problems (I'm a doctor).
Stick to what she knows, and is comfortable - and she will do better with it.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
@ spineboy
Assuming these are *not* cheap, how much is too much (IYHO) before a hospital would not buy them to have on hand in cases li
Re:Really only TWO options available (Score:4, Informative)
It's called a Dynavox. http://www.dynavoxtech.com/ [dynavoxtech.com]
IIRC, my wife who's in the field of speach therapy and augmentative communications, mentioned he uses a switch that measures muscle tension and a scanning keyboard/UI to pick and choose his words.
Yes, they are expensive. They also need training to use as well as it needing training, setup and/or direction from a speach therapist to a caregiver in order to setup.
For someone in a hospital, a communication board (8x10, 11x17 or whatever grid of organized pictures and letters) is more effective and simple. Most hospitals should have these to communicate basic needs like itchiness, pain, sensory answers a nurse of doctor would ask.
Parent
Re: (Score:2)
If I was in pain or feeling nauseas or whatever, I could hit the call button but couldn't say anything. They'd have to come right away not k
Re: (Score:2, Funny)
Listen, this is Slashdot. Stop being practical and start thinking like a wannabe nerd.
Don't listen to him, Charliezcc! Here's what you have to do: First get a PDA - not a current one, mind you, but something old and preferably unpopular.
Then, port Linux to it. You'll probably have to write the handwriting recognition software yourself, but no problem, right?
Once done, it will be the ideal device to facilitate two-way conversation between you and your grandmother.
Off you go! Shouldn't ta
Re:Paper and pencil? (Score:4, Informative)
They kept a few around the ICU/CCU for patients that needed them to communicate. At the time I sort of assumed that most hospitals kept some sort of tools around for that purpose.
Parent
Re:Paper and pencil? (Score:5, Informative)
I had jaw surgery many years ago and went to the toy stores beforehand to get a couple of magic slates and they had just come out with the magna doodle so I bought one.
After the surgery, at the start of each of the first 4 shifts a nurse would come into my room and see it and say "OMG where did you get this?" "Could I borrow it for the floor meeting, Please" It would go away for a half hour and then come back. They did lots of jaw surgeries on that floor and were very tired of papers laying everywhere.
As I was wired shut for 7 weeks I even took it with me afterwards to shop and such.
Just make sure you write her name on the frame so she gets it back.
Parent
Re:if she can move her hands, mouse+ screen keyboa (Score:3, Insightful)
Um...no. Don't bring a pickup truck-full of electronics into the hospital room. The nurses have enough to do without stumbling over cords from devices you brought from home. The original poster said that the patient was on a ventilator. There are probably already quite a few electronic medical devices in the patient's room. If you are thinking of bringing in something bigger than a laptop, check with the nurses on that unit first.
Yes, I work in
LOL - that has to be the worst solution so far (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
It's not as stupid as it sounds for the short term.
Sign language (Score:3, Interesting)
Alternatively, teach her a handful of ASL signs. "Yes" is a fist you nod. "No" is two fingers pinched against the thumb. Finger spelling resembles the written characters in many cases, so it shouldn't be a big burden to learn. Don't be afraid to invent signs - that's perfectly valid, especially wh