The Centre For Cerebral Palsy

Transcription

1 The Centre For Cerebral Palsy This PowerPoint presentation augments the formal submission made by The Centre for Cerebral Palsy (The Centre) to the Senate inquiry into the prevalence of different types of speech language communication disorders and Speech Pathology Services. It has been prepared by Speech Pathology staff with direct input from individuals accessing services at The Centre and as such demonstrates the lived experience of children, adults and families and describes the impact of complex communication and swallowing issues.

2 The Centre For Cerebral Palsy The Speech Pathology Services provided at The Centre are goal driven by families and the individuals through their individual and family plans. Although Speech Pathology is the focus of this inquiry, individuals and families are supported by multidisciplinary teams both through The Centre and formal and informal supports in their community to foster participation. At The Centre, Speech Pathology Services are provided across the lifespan, the youngest individual being 12 months, to the oldest being in their early eighties.

3 Speech Pathology Needs over the Lifespan with Disability

4 Prevalence of communication and swallowing difficulties 8-10 people per 1000 population may have severe communication impairment (Beukelman and Ansel,1995) At a minimum communication difficulties may affect1.3% of the total population (Australian Institute of health and Welfare,2004) Swallowing difficulties may affect up to 16% of Australians (Eslick and Talley,2008)

5 Prevalence of Communication Disabilities Augmentative or alternative communication devices(aac) are used by 13,000 Australian (Speech Pathology Australia,2008) 1 in 7 users over 5 years of age have little or no effective communication and over 40% require assistance(australian Institute of Health and welfare,2005) Service Users with primary disability of Intellectual(27%), Autism(23%) and Deafblind(16%) most likely to have little or no effective communication

6 I am three years old and this is my voice I am unable to talk I understand what you say When I first started to communicate I had a book with pictures which my family had to point to until they got my message I now have a Communication device which I access with a switch in my headrest on my wheelchair I am learning a whole set of motor sequence pictures to say with my device what you can say with your mouth, tongue, lips and voice box

7 This is my way of Communicating. I will need Speech Therapy for many years to continue to learn all the language I need to read, write, access the community and the world through the world wide web.

8 I am 40 years old I have had Cerebral Palsy My speech is very unclear and only those people familiar with my speech can understand me I have a visual impairment and am unable to read My goal is to have a communication book which tells people who don t know me about my interests and also how to communicate with me Developing my communication book has taken over 18 months to achieve Please take the time to read my communication book

9 My Communication book

10 Please keep reading my book

11 I have something to tell you-my next big life event

12 A Parent s Story

13 Learning New Ways to Communicate A parent of a daughter with good understanding of what is said to her and unable to speak who has a communication device described the following experience: My daughter and I have had the rare privilege of some intensive speech therapy over the past several weeks and it has been fantastic to watch my daughter s progress.

14 Intensive Therapy Blocks with Expert Support (parent story cont ) I have always felt that the intensive blocks of therapy are the most effective way to support a communication device and it has long been a frustration of mine that these expensive devices are not used to best advantage for want of EXPERT support. In a situation where a person has a communication impairment and perhaps uses an alternative method of communication such as a communication device it is vital to maintain a close and ongoing relationship with a competent Speech Pathologist

15 The Right to Communicate (parent story cont ) We need the support of Speech pathologists to: help with technical issues build functional language-which is not, nor ever should be static over a person s life provide in servicing to ever changing support staff.. This helps that everyone has a VOICE, a basic HUMAN RIGHT. I speak from 20+ years as a parent with a young adult with a communication impairment

16 Acquiring New Language (parent story cont ) Not only have we seen that our daughter is till capable of acquiring new language skills, but her use of what is a very expensive funded piece of equipment has increased dramatically now that her support workers have been given adequate ongoing support by a professional who has the appropriate skills to teach them

17 Choice and Dignity (parent story cont ) As a parent committed to giving my child a voice and therefore some dignity in her life, I rely on professionals to help me achieve this

18 Thank you to my Speech Therapist in Minspeak Thank you to my Speech Therapist

19 I have had Cerebral Palsy and an Intellectual Disability I have no verbal speech and rely on others to interpret my non-verbal communication I also have severe swallowing problems My Speech Pathologist sees me every 3 months My Speech Therapist with the Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist and Dietitian have provided my Family and Support Workers with a special plan to look after my health and well being to help me to continue to eat and drink safely

20 Food going down the wrong way Pneumonia Choking Weight loss Malnutrition and Dehydration

21 What you have to do to help me eat and drink

22 What do Speech Pathologists do? Maintain Health and Well being Speech Sounds and Voice Language Literacy Technician AAC Communication Expertise Independence, Participation, Social connections

23 With Thanks To the families who gave permission to use their stories Dr Bronwyn Hemsley- Personal Communication Speech Pathology Australia- Submission to: The Productivity Commission Disability Care and Support(April 2011) Leela De Mel- The Centre for Cerebral Palsy The Speech Pathologists at The Centre for Cerebral Palsy

24 Presented on behalf of the Centre for Cerebral Palsy, Perth Western Australia Judy Hogben Chief Executive Officer