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Pinoy speech pathologists develop 'communication boards' for intubated COVID-19 patients

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Jauhn Etienne Villaruel, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/tvpatrol/03/29/icu.jpg"/><figcaption>A medical worker in protective gear (R) tends to a patient on March 24, 2020 at the new COVID 3 level intensive care unit for coronavirus COVID-19 cases at the Casal Palocco hospital near Rome, during the country&#x27;s lockdown aimed at stopping the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. <em>Alberto Pizzolo, AFP</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — A group of Filipino speech pathologists launched on Sunday a &quot;communication board&quot; to aid healthcare workers in communicating with COVID-19-stricken patients unable to speak due to intubation or other escalated respiratory support.</p><p>&quot;Patients who are unable to communicate cannot effectively participate in medical decision-making and may not effectively communicate their needs and symptoms. This could greatly impact on their care,&quot; the Philippine Association of Speech Pathologists (PASP) said in a statement.</p><p>The communication kit was developed by PASP&#x27;s Augmentative and Alternative Communication Special Interest Group.</p><p>Speech pathology is a branch of rehabilitation concerned with individuals who may have articulation, hearing, voice, fluency, swallowing difficulties and language disorders.</p><div><strong>WHAT&#x27;S IN THE KIT?</strong></div><div class="media-content"><div class="slider-for"><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/tvpatrol/03/29/photo1.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/tvpatrol/03/29/photo2.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/tvpatrol/03/29/photo3.jpg"/></div></div><div class="media-content slider-desc"><div class="item-desc"><cite>hotos courtesy of Philippine Association of Speech Pathologists</cite></div><div class="item-desc"><cite>hotos courtesy of Philippine Association of Speech Pathologists</cite></div><div class="item-desc"><cite>hotos courtesy of Philippine Association of Speech Pathologists</cite></div></div></div><p>There are 9 visual materials included in the kit, among them are pain scales and boards that ask questions regarding general needs, medical needs, and personal needs.</p><p>The communication kit, available in both English and Filipino languages, is free and accessible in a <a href="http://bit.ly/Covid19CommBoard">Google drive</a> managed by PASP.</p><p>Healthcare providers, especially those attending to COVID-19 patients, are encouraged to use the communication device.</p><p>&quot;Some hospitals in the Philippines possess tools that alleviate these communication barriers in acute care settings, but many other hospitals — including those in the provinces — may lack these tools,&quot; PASP said.</p><div><strong>&#x27;VERY USEFUL&#x27;</strong></div><p>According to anesthesiologist Nylene Arizala of Capitol Medical Center, the visual materials developed by PASP are &quot;very useful.&quot;</p><p>&quot;When a patient is put on a ventilator, definitely he/she cannot verbalize anymore. What he/she can do is write in a piece of paper or slate board... That is a very helpful visual aid to patients who can’t verbalize,&quot; Arizala told ABS-CBN News.</p><p>Arizala shared that she once attended to a person under investigation (PUI) for COVID-019, who eventually turned out positive for the pathogen.</p><p>&quot;Madalas (Often) we are called to do the intubations to PUIs. Almost all of intubations are being done by anesthesiologists and sometimes we get called 2 to 3 times a day to do intubation either in ICU or ER,&quot; Arizala said.</p><p>However, the anesthesiologist warned of the limitations of such visual aid, since the intubation procedure more or less requires patients to be sedated.</p><p>&quot;Most of our patients na naka-intubate are sedated kaya ang chart na &#x27;yan is helpful only to awake and stable patients. &#x27;Yung iba kasing patient nag-struggle kaya sini-sedate or pinapatulog,&quot; she said.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/29/20/doh-announces-343-new-covid-19-cases-total-now-at-1418">DOH announces 343 new COVID-19 cases; total now at 1,418</a></li></ul><p>As of Sunday, the Philippines has recorded 1,418 COVID-19 cases, 71 of whom died and 42 have recovered, according to the Department of Health.</p>

<p>A group of Filipino speech pathologists launched on Sunday a "communication board" to aid healthcare workers in communicating with COVID-19-stricken patients unable to speak due to intubation or other escalated respiratory support.</p>

A group of Filipino speech pathologists launched on Sunday a "communication board" to aid healthcare workers in communicating with COVID-19-stricken patients unable to speak due to intubation or other escalated respiratory support.

Pinoy speech pathologists develop 'communication boards' for intubated COVID-19 patients

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Pinoy speech pathologists develop 'communication boards' for intubated COVID-19 patients

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 29, 2020 11:36 PM PHT

Read More:

COVID-19

coronavirus disease 2019

speech pathologists

intubation

Philippine Association of Speech Pathologists

PASP

Alternative Communication Special Interest Group

communication kits

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