ACQ Vol 12 No 3 2010

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ACQ Volume 12, Number 3 2010 149
not working – or if the patient is very hearing impaired and
has never acquired hearing aids. The latest model is the
Bellman Audio Maxi (digital communication aid). This model
has a built-in microphone and headphones. We have tried
the earbuds and stethoclip but found the best sound quality
is with the headphones.
9. Hearing aid maintenance kit
Our allied health assistant has assembled this kit which is
handy for emergencies. It contains spare batteries, cleaning
brushes, lubricating gel for when a poor seal results in
constant feedback, and an airball for drying out a wet
earmould.
5. Augmentative
communication
strategies for
adults with acute
or chronic medical
conditions
By Beukelman, D.,
Garret, K. & Yorkston,
K. (2007). Augmentative
communication strategies
for adults with acute or
chronic medical conditions.
Baltimore, MD: Paul H.
Brookes Publishing Co.;available from www.borders.
for $100.95 including postage.
This text, including CD-ROM, provides AAC strategies for
adults with a range of conditions, such as brainstem
impairment, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, multiple
sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, severe aphasia, Huntington’s
disease, dementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and head
and neck cancer. It includes assessment and intervention
tools.
6. Cue cards in community languages
Correspondence to:
Kathryn McKinley
Speech Pathologist
Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre, Austin Health
email:
Transcultural Services at Eastern Health developed these
pages of images with words in English and 62 other
languages. They can be handy when an interpreter is not
available. We have them printed out in the most commonly
needed languages. They are free to download in 4x5 cell
format or a larger version with 2x2 cells at
7. Communication Resource Centre
See:
resources#Communication
SCOPES’ Communication Resource Centre has a number of
online resources that we regularly use and refer to in our
practice. The ‘Easy English writing style guide’ is available
online as well as ‘Images for Easy English’ and there are also
a number of fact sheets about communication access, AAC,
and communicating with people with communication
difficulties.
8. Assistive listening devices
The Bellman Audio Maxi is available from Word of
Mouth Technology for $279.
We have a good supply of devices, which are invaluable for
loaning to patients when their hearing aids are unavailable/
10. Interpreters
We are lucky to have interpreters employed by the hospital
who speak several of the most commonly spoken languages
of our patients. Interpreters for less commonly spoken
languages are outsourced to agencies. We try to book as
many interpreters as possible for patients at ward rounds
and for multidisciplinary assessments, as well as for
individual assessment and therapy sessions.