Hey Ron, As a matter of fact, yes. Not long ago, I had to see one of our home health patients as there was no one else available to see the patient. She was post stroke several years and the family/patient and I identified her most pressing problem areas as inability to effectively communicate and inability to join most family household activities due to difficulty staying up in the wheelchair for more than short periods (due to lower extremity pain) and difficulty performing transfers (due to poor confidence in caregiver assist and poor set up the home). I called the MD and got a ST order, but later found out that the ST did an evaluation only. The patient had PT on multiple occasions with little benefit so I didn't go there, but it was simple enough to get her active/social in the house with some simple modifications to the home and wheelchair and some caregiver instruction. I found that the patient could communicate rather effectively by pointing to objects so I set up a communication board and did all the necessary training. I'm still not certain why the ST would not have tried this.
I wouldn't attempt to work with a patient on verbal expression or on other services out of my realm, but I felt comfortable setting up this simple means of communication. I have a model of a communication board I could share if you're interested (I'll have to search for it actually). Cook book boards seldom work effectively, but it can be used as a starting point. Of course, I would only work on this within the context of occupational therapy goals. If you feel speech is impaired and the patient would benefit from specific speech therapy intervention, it would be best to refer to a qualified speech and language professional. Jimmie -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Ron Carson Sent: Monday, March 21, 2005 11:23 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [BULK] [OTlist] OT and Speech Deficits Importance: Low Hello: Have anyone ever worked with someone about 5 years post stroke, whose primary complaint is speech? Thanks, Ron -- Unsubscribe? [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] Help? [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** NOTICE--The attached communication contains privileged and confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, DO NOT read, copy, or disseminate this communication. Non-intended recipients are hereby placed on notice that any unauthorized disclosure, duplication, distribution, or taking of any action in reliance on the contents of these materials is expressly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please delete this information in its entirety and contact the Amedisys Privacy Hotline at 1-866-518-6684. Also, please immediately notify the sender via e-mail that you have received this communication in error. *** -- Unsubscribe? [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] Help? [EMAIL PROTECTED]
