1140 - Sign language in communication in a patient with infantile cerebral palsy

Case Diagnosis: Passive communicators infantile cerebral palsy

Case Description: Patient ICP, GMFCS III, with oral language alteration, who prior to the pandemic performed physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, which were suspended during the beginning of the COVID 19.
The rehabilitation process was carried out by two sign language instructors, sign language teaching strategies were carried out to the patient and family collectively, with an intensity of 2 sessions per week. lasting 90 minutes each for two months. Once a week, a 4-year-old girl without PCI who masters sign language is included in the strategy generating greater interest from the learner. We worked with a thematic field of the Basic Dictionary of the Colombian Sign Language Toys, drawings, images and household items were used, integration and participation, allowing better acceptance.

Discussions: Patients with ICP, depending on their level of neurological deficit, may have limitations in speech and phonation and therefore communication with third parties is altered, without having a major motor limitation. This leads to a great negative impact on the child's growth and adaptation to the environment in which they are dependent on third parties for communication. These same phonation limitations can undermine the literacy of future patients and limit family and social inclusion.

With this clinical case the great impact generated by teaching the patient and his family sign language was demonstrated, with a pedagogical plan of different strategies, in which the acquisition and learning LSC, stimulating the development of linguistic competencies and teaching in an environment with family members, going from being passive to active communicator.

Conclusions: With this case report we hope to encourage more research studies with a larger sample of patients, with different educational strategies to establish better results in favor of communication for patients with cerebral palsy. Child whit ICP going from being passive to active communicator.