What can we do for this patient to enable them to communicate freely and indicate to others their wants or needs?įor this patient, we have the EEG, or electronic encephalography method.
This means that the user is not sending any useful signals of consciousness and contactless technology is useless for them. Now, let’s say that none of the above options are useful for the person and they are in a persistent vegetative state, or PVS. By loudly breathing and or out, blowing onto a microphone, sniffing, moaning or any other grunt type of noise can be used as a trigger for scanning. These visually identifiable actions can include mimics, moving a lip, raising and eye brow, blinking an eye, even moving an eye-ball and this behavior can be detected and used as a trigger event for data input via partner assisted scanning technology.īarring any kind of movement at all, if the user can produce any kind of vocal sounds, which do not include speech of course, they can communicate using the partner assisted scanning technology as well. If the patient can perform any visually identifiable actions and those actions can be understood by an assistant, they may have an easier time communicating their needs. Let’s take a look at some options available to them. In more serious cases of paralysis, if the person doesn’t have enough muscular activity to indicate their needs, that may still be able to communicate using visual or audio signals. What is the person doesn’t have enough mobility or strong enough muscular activity to operate a keyboard, mouse or pedal on a mouthpiece? What are they to do when they need to communicate important information to others? This method would see the user selecting a symbol or key word and highlighting it at that particular moment. Some patients will use their tongue on a specialized mouthpiece which is wired to the keyboard button. If the impaired person is a quadriplegic or tetraplegia, they could use some other part of their body to indicate the desired response. This is a very low tech system that would require the communication partner to read the letter, phrase, word or symbol aloud or transfer it to a messaging system for family, friends or medical or service personnel. The user, this would be the person with the disability or immobility, would indicate by either pointing at or using some other gesture, a letter, phrase, word or symbol indicating what they are in need of. How do these people with significantly impaired mobility communicate with others? What means of communication are available to them?įor those suffering with severe forms of paralysis or having significant mobility problems like those associated with quadriplegia, there are a few, not many, available options for communication let’s take a look at some here.įor those who have some remaining use of muscular activity, a muscular contraction strong enough to move a mouse or at least press a button on a keyboard that has simple commands or text associated with it, could be just what is needed to communicate their needs with others.Įven if they are only able to move one of their fingers, they can use partner assisted scanning to type and send text messages.
The face these challenges every day and have a hard time communicating something as simple as a “Hello”. For some, especially those who are partially or completely paralyzed due to injury or disease, this is the harsh reality of their life. How can you tell them that you don’t like the taste of lemon in your tea or burnt toast? For that matter, how will you be able to communicate anything with others regarding pain levels, basic needs and anything else you have to say?įor you, this was just an exercise, a learning experience that you can leave at any time and communicate freely with anyone you choose about anything you like. How would you communicate with others in the room? How would you get your morning coffee, or breakfast for that matter? You can’t effectively say what you want so you are now at the mercy of a dietician who choose foods that are “best” for you. Imagine for a moment if you will, that you wake up one day and you are completely paralyzed. Communication Methods Available for Completely Paralyzed Patients Communication Methods available to people suffering from paralysis or significantly impaired mobility