hi

Replies

By morello

Re: hi
Sat 26 Jan 2008 10:07

Speaking as a carer of somebody who cannot communicate, I would say after 30 years of trying there is no help so if you find any let me know,its a case of getting on with it ourselves, if you wait for help then you will be waiting a long time. Good luck, and dont be embarrassed the people who interviewed you are the ones that need to be embarrassed
Mo

By kerry

Re: hi
Sat 26 Jan 2008 11:45

Hi Kepko,
I take it you are an employed carer?
As far as communication difficulties go I think I would focus on trying to use makaton or BSL (if your caree has some mobility)- these are always useful tools with someone who might not necessarily be deaf but who cannot communicate for whatever reason.
I did laugh at the haircutting episode, My sons are the same.
However, it may be that your caree is hyper sensitive- in other words he might not be able to cope with the sensations of haircutting/ nail cutting etc.
Of course, i dont know the condition of your caree, maybe he just wanted long hair, but there is usually more to it than something like that which would be easy to deal with!!!!
(eg. bribery!!!)
Perhaps giving him a good indian head massage first would alleviate some of the sensitivity if this is the problem.
Have you learnt all about his particular condition?
Like his likes and dislikes, what he can or cannot cope with etc?
My boys have fragile X syndrome and autism and other stuff, but both are relatively different to touch: one loves looking in the mirror for a hair cut, the other one loses the plot completely and wont even look in the mirror, never mind tolerate a hair cut!
He is very hyper sensitive.
,Anyway, fair play to you for trying- thats all we do half the time, trial and error, and you are right that shouting will not work at all, but make the problem much worse.... he will get even more stressed!
A calm firm voice is needed, and how about if you try and forewarn him of what is happening?
and perhaps keep explaining what it will involve- sometimes they understand a lot more than we think!

above all, keep your patience- I know how easy that is to say, and a lot harder to do- but you getting stressed wont help at all, im sure he will pick up on your emotions and will react badly.
Good luck!
Kerry

By kerry

Re: hi
Sat 26 Jan 2008 11:49

PS also i would imagine some of their main issues would be their frustration at not being able to communicate what they need, or want or how they feel about something, or if they are ill or scared etc. if there is a lot of noise around them, or bright lights hurting their eyes... the list is endless!
Whether or not they prefer eye contact (mine hate it) so working alongside rather than in front of might elicit better communication.
Kerry