TEAMworks China - Speech-Language Therapy Marathon

Our day started in the neurology department with Cheri doing an oral motor and speech-language evaluation with a stroke patient.  The hospital staff was very involved in the evaluation and showed enthusiasm with what they learned about adult evaluation yesterday.

Following the neurology department, Carmen taught the staff about behavior modification techniques.  The child-raising culture here is quite different, and behavior modification is like a new idea.  In order for us to keep our sanity for the next 3 days, we realized not only did we need to teach behavior modification, but the staff need to implement it immediately.  Ha!  There was a moment when the penny reinforcement boards were brought out, where pure pandemonium broke out when the therapists were so excited to see American coins.  The translator said, "It's Lincoln," and we all applauded.

The Boardmaker program was brought out, but a slight glitch was observed.  The program requested was for a Mac, which is what the hospital staff has, but the program received was for Windows, which the hospital does not have.  Bummer!  But, everything that Boardmaker can do was reviewed and demonstrated with picture cards, schedules, and picture boards printed from the program and brought here.  Upon returning home, the program will be exchanged and sent back to Amanda.

In the afternoon, we saw 2 beautiful American children, and we were pumped to get to speak ENGLISH with them!!!  And once again, it was culturally appropriate for Carmen to touch little kid heads (it's not ok in this culture).  They were so fun.  Carmen gave articulation tips, and both kids caught on very quickly.

The final teach for the day was on speech-language checklist evaluations.  When talking about the oral motor part of the checklist addressing drooling; suddenly, one of the staff members threw her hands over her face with a sigh of despair, gasped, and whispered, "Sometimes at night I drool when I'm sleeping."  What she was asking was, "Do I need speech therapy????"  Hahahaha!  Good times in speech training!

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