Advice on Cushion Seating - Page 2

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  1. May 27, '11 by
    Also, environmental control units can be used to control many things in the environment (light switches, TV, radio, etc.) Not sure how much these cost but they can be set up to work with most household things.

    As far as speaking, has he had a speech therapist? There are many augmentative communication device, i.e. Dynavox that he could be set up with that would allow him to communicate using an automated voice. Something to consider, but a speech therapist would be the best to talk to about that.
  2. May 27, '11 by
    Quote from OTconsideringBSN
    Also, environmental control units can be used to control many things in the environment (light switches, TV, radio, etc.) Not sure how much these cost but they can be set up to work with most household things.

    As far as speaking, has he had a speech therapist? There are many augmentative communication device, i.e. Dynavox that he could be set up with that would allow him to communicate using an automated voice. Something to consider, but a speech therapist would be the best to talk to about that.
    Within the next week he is getting a unit set up in his room so he can work the TV; he is so excited! To be honest, the price was not too bad. I mean when you think about the things he can no longer do and see the excitement for this TV system, it is so worth it!

    To be honest, we are not crazy about this LTC facility and he does have a speech thereapist. He likes this LTC facility because family literally lives within minutes and also we had trouble finding places who take tracheotomy patients. When you turn off everything like his Oxygen, TV and air condition, you can hear him talk. However, it would be nice if there were a device to help him speak louder.
  3. May 27, '11 by
    Quote from OTconsideringBSN
    As far as speaking, has he had a speech therapist? There are many augmentative communication device, i.e. Dynavox that he could be set up with that would allow him to communicate using an automated voice. Something to consider, but a speech therapist would be the best to talk to about that.
    Could you tell me how this works? I could look more into it and ask his speech therapist about it. Basically whatever he wants, he has to buy himself. They are really not doing too much to make him more comfortable.
  4. May 28, '11 by
    They can fit it to his strengths, so if he has good head control, they could use a head wand, which he can use to tap onto a screen to select his words. There is also a mouth wand, works the same way. There is also eye gaze, which just works by focusing his eyes on parts of the screen. If he is still pretty new on the trach though, his speech still may improve. We've had many people in rehab who still have very soft voices when they are new to a trach but can get quite a bit louder after they have had it for awhile and practice speaking.
  5. May 28, '11 by
    I hope his voice gets stronger. He's had his trach since Sept. 2010 though. He has great head control so that's a plus!
  6. May 29, '11 by
    Therapy should be able to order cushions direct from the supplier for him. I can't believe that all he has is a thin pad - our facility has many styles of cushions for pt use and most of them are ROHO as another poster described. Maybe the family can buy one for him if the facility won't get proper cushions - the OT/PT can order it. You will do better in price to order one through therapy directly.