Augmentative and alternative communication methods in locked-in syndrome

Locked-in syndrome is a neurological condition due to a brain disease or an injury affecting the brain stem. The symptoms are tetraplegia, double-side d facial paresis, anarthria/dysarthrophonia, dysphagia and reactive involun tary laughing and crying. Vertical eye movements are the only commonly rema ining voluntary motor function. Although the linguistic abilities as well a s intellectual and emotional functions as a whole remain intact, all the mo tor abilities of self expression are lost. Seventeen chronic locked-in synd rome patients referred to Kapyla Rehabilitation Centre between 1979-2000 ar e reported. The multi-disciplinary rehabilitation team developed an individ ual alternative communication method for all patients and trained them to u se it by minor movements of e.g. thumb, chin or head. An alternative commun ication method enabled most of the patients to interact with other people u sing practical as well as theoretical thinking and decision making.