Report
from Marika Zenglein about her speech therapy for REWA
Even
before I started my trip, I was asked many times how I intend to
do language therapy in the Ladakhi language. And to be honest, I
also asked myself: How will it work? What exactly can I do? What
will happen?
Throughout
my studies I naturally acquired a somewhat different perspective
of the area of work and so I coarsely mapped out the expected problems
in my mind.
A
very altert patient
I
was fortunate to have acquired some valuable experience within my
professional field while working in Bangkok. Thailand is also not
exactly the country of the standardized language diagnostic procedures.
But Thailand is a medically advanced country, full of perfectly
equipped and specialized doctors, who in turn work in modern hospital
centres. They have the resources and facilities to do a large number
of basal investigations.
Speechtherapy
with painting exercises
Ladakh,
however, has taught me the other side of the story. There is neither
the possibility for advanced investigation of ear, nose and throat
problems, nor a profound knowledge of the problems disabled children
have with language, speech and voice. In addition, we face repeatedly
lack of acknowledgement of language disorders amongst the locals,
and sometimes quite vague notions of my possibilities as a language-
and speech therapist. When I was in Germany I already knew that
there would be litttle reliable diagnostic and therapeutic material
in Ladakh, so at least in this area I had a somewhat realistic idea.To
some degree this is understandable. This is India, a completely
different world with its own rules and mechanisms.
Marika
with one of her patients
In
addition we face the problem with Tibetan medicine, Tibetan healers,
known as Amchis. Among the local population Amchis seem to be a
very prestigious institutions. In any case, they often put more
confidence and faith in Amchis than in the western medicine. The
healing of Amchis is based on the search for the mental poisons
of wind, phlegm and bile. I think it's beautiful and sometimes even
admirable, that tradition and faith are always so present. But when
I work with the people I was quite astonished to hear the family
announce with full fervour, that an autistic girl of 16 years, who
never spoke one a single word in her life, with 18 years of age
will certainly begin to speak fluently, because the Amchi had predicted
it.
Blowing
bubbles, a important exercise
For
other children we also fight a battle on fields of ignorance and
distrust. For example lets use little Dolma (name has been changed).
Dolma is well over three years old and was born with an open cleft
palate and many other disorders. It has already been operated on
three times, unfortunately, without significant success. But the
father refused to consult another doctor. In such struggles my hands
are tied, even though I was incredibly sad. I have no other choice
but to teach the mother to give the girl only certain foods and
to avoid others so at least the choking will be minimized. I still
do not know whether it is actually implemented in practice.
Stimulation
of the muscles
I
always stumble across very vague ideas of what I can do to help
the children. I have been introduced to a number of deaf children
and I was asked to please see to it that they hear and speak properly.
Alternative methods of communication have been rarely accepted.
But, unfortunately, a speech therapist is not Superman, even if
I sometimes wish to be just that.
Nicola
explains breathing techniques
Even
if these experiences are sometimes tedious and make me feel helpless
like a little Don Quixote unable to win the fight against the mighty
wind mills, there is also another side that is driving me to keep
on going and not despair. Because there are a lot of locals who
are always supportive and kind. There are colleagues that strengthen
with the cooking of a loving hot soup, there are tourists in transit
who listen, give advise and share a valuable piece of their knowledge
and skills. They all eventually become friends and we share countless
evenings with precious conversations and fellowship.
Speechtherapist
from Switzerland travelling through and extend their helping hands
One
of the local pillars of my work is mainly Chuskit. She is supposed
to carry on my work when I leave. REWA plans to send her to a special
school in Delhi to learn more about speech therapy. With her gentle
and quite approach Chuskit has become my voice in therapy and has
a very pleasant and positive impact on our patients.
My German colleagues are now four volunteers: two physiotherapists,
an occupational therapist and a designer. We, all the ladies that
live together, share our life, work and evenings. And I will not
forget to mention the travellers in Leh. I would never have expected
to meet some nice healing language therapists from around the world
to offer their knowledge and experience to our organisation, as
they randomly drop in to help. For example like Beatrice and Dominic
from Switzerland, who thought me a stimulating massage for the muscles
involved in speech and nerves. Further we ran into Carolina from
Panama and her husband Nicola from France, who helped me with some
of their own methods of respiratory apnoea from the field of deep
sea diving. They also gave me numerous tips about speech therapy
in general. Enriching experiences like that are wonderful for me.
