Case studies: communication

To further our understanding of effective communication, we would like you to discuss the following scenarios with our case study characters (Justin, Thandi, Mai, Lucas).

Case study 1. Justin: Justin has a hearing impairment. His local dentist does not know sign language. Justin needs to have a filling in his tooth and will need to follow the dentist’s instructions during the procedure.

Case study 2. Thandi: Thandi received a diagnosis of cerebral palsy when she was 2 years old. Her mother was told that the condition could not be cured, but she did not believe the healthcare professionals, and spent a lot of money seeking care from different healers who promised that they could help her child.

Case study 3. Mai: Mai has Down syndrome and epilepsy. She is not always keen to take her epilepsy medication as it makes her feel drowsy. She can get very angry with her parents when they ask her to take the drug and she often refuses, causing her to have seizures.

Case study 4. Lucas: When Lucas was a young boy, he started exhibiting a number of challenging behaviours. Although diagnosed with autism, the healthcare professional was unsure of the prognosis for Lucas over the coming years and did not know how his functioning would be affected. His grandmother was adamant that the healthcare professionals give her clearer answers about his prognosis.

Discussion

For each of the scenarios, consider:

1. How should the healthcare professional respond to the situation? Think about the message to be communicated and the language they should use.
2. What information would be important to gather before responding?
3. Who else might the healthcare professional involve in this conversation?
4. Are there any communication aids or techniques they could use?

We encourage you to think on your own experiences and perspectives when discussing how to communicate with these children and their families. We look forward to reading your suggestions in the comments section below!