[Dysphagia] off-topic - simulating communication disorders

[pleslie at pitt.edu (Leslie, Paula)]

Hi Sandi

This may sound pretty simple. I tried this sort of thing with my intro
to communication disorders class.  How do you get people to feel what
it's like...?

You can ask knowledgeable people to imitate people who've had a stroke
etc obviously but in my class the students just wouldn't have had that
much experience.

I pulled out of the class out all those who spoke a second language even
if just a few words.  And told them to go back into the class and pair
up - BUT to only speak in their non-english language no matter what.
Then the people in the class were just told to initiate conversation.

And you let them run with it.

And you'd be amazed at all the feelings that people experience, not just
the cerebral knowledge that one doesn't talk the language but
embarrassment, stupidity, frustration, confusion, even fear.

Some bright sparks might use gesture to help - that's a useful thing to
learn.

With more time I'd send them out to order coffee but only being able to
whisper or slur their speech or just gesture.

I think this is invaluable, to make people feel what it's like.  You can
talk about the effects til the cows come home but that's not the biggest
hurdle.

Good Luck.  Do share anything else that comes in - sounds like a great
training thing.

Paula

Dr Paula Leslie
CertMRCSLT
Associate Professor, Communication Science and Disorders
Specialist Advisor (Swallowing Disorders) RCSLT
University of Pittsburgh
4033 Forbes Tower
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
tel: (+1) 412- 383-6748 fax: (+1) 412-383-6555
pleslie at pitt.edu
http://www.shrs.pitt.edu 


-----Original Message-----
From: dysphagia-bounces at dysphagia.com
[mailto:dysphagia-bounces at dysphagia.com] On Behalf Of Sandi Lancaster
Sent: Friday, July 13, 2007 11:06
To: dysphagia listserve
Subject: [Dysphagia] off-topic - simulating communication disorders

Hi all,
   
  Sorry for the off-topic post, but this listserve is always such a
wealth of knowledge and ideas!  Our hospital is looking at doing
comprehensive staff training on communication disorders.  One idea we've
had is that during an inservice, we'd like to simulate some
communication disorders so that the participants will get to experience
what it feels like to have a communication disorder.  (Sort of like how
a PT might have participants be wheelchair-bound, or an OT might have
participants keep one arm behind their back while doing ADLs, to
simulate physical disabilities.)
   
  So, we'd like have our participants experience simulated communication
disorders, but we are having difficulty coming up with specific ways to
do this.  Has anyone done this before...?  Any ideas...?
   
  Thanks,
   
  Sandi


Sandi Lancaster, M.A. CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital of Maryland
 
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