BACK TO UNIVERSITY

I have been back to my university for a week. I am now in my 3rd year but the implication of it hasn't grasped me yet. I had my first briefing of my clinic sessions with my supervisor yesterday. All of us are to have 2 clients each, both children cases. One is a language delay case and the other will an hearing impairment case.

After clinical orientation today, I went to look at my clients' files. After 2 hours, I've only managed to look through one file. And even that, I know I will need to refer to it again. The first thought that came into my mind after that was - this is going to be a very busy sem.

I need to divide my time between my classes and preparing for clinic sessions. Preparation work takes a lot of time, as what I have experienced last sem. And now, I'm facing a client whom, I have no idea what I should assess her on. The information I found from her previous reports seem vague and varies. I don't even know where to start.

I need to find time between my classes tomorrow to look go look through all the tests available to find what is suitable. If there is none, I might have to come out with a test myself. Which means.....more time needed to prepare.

That's only one client. I still have another client to see to. And clinic sessions will commence the week after the next. I have to give my supervisor a copy of my session plan by Tuesday. I have only a few days to come out with something.

It wouldn't be so bad if the debate competion and swimming competition are not coming up soon. I have to help train the 1st year students for the debate. And I have no idea where's the time left for swimming practices.

This is nothing new to me. It happens at every sem. Somehow, I have always managed to cope with all these.

I pray that God will give me the strength and wisdom to go through all these. Into the Lord's Almighty hands I surrender myself.

GENERAL HOSPITAL

I have had an attachment with the one and only speech therapist in a hospital in Ipoh. I have been there once a week for 3 weeks and I must say those 3 occasions were really eye opening for me.

Being a speech therapist in a government hospital is not easy. There's an average of 6-7 clients a day and work can be non-stop except for lunch break. She can only see a client about twice or once a month, except for clients who have undergone cochlear implant. These patients need weekly therapy. Furthermore, she is catering to clients from the whole of Perak as there are only 2 speech therapists working in government hospitals in this state.

This attachment has let me have a glimpse into the working life in a hospital. The speech therapy room itself is situated in the ENT department. The bulk of cases refered are from the paediatric department - about 90% of the cases. So, I saw a lot of children, especially the ones with hearing impairment.

I've learned that giving therapy is not something that can be drawn out directly from a book. Each therapy needs to be modified according to the need and suitability for the client. Experience plays a vital role in many ways. There's a lot more to learn after graduation.

I'm glad to have gone for this attachment. It has helped me look forwad to go back to university and though I will have to face a humongous pile of workload then. But all these workload are important in preparation for me to become a speech therapist.

Two more years...then I'm out of university.

STORIES FROM MOTHERS

Last Friday, I had a chat with 3 mothers in New Horizons. It was a rare opportunity for me that they are sharing their stories with me.

All 3 of them are mothers of children with Down Syndrome, aged 7. Mrs. T is the mother of a very active son. This is an accident-proned child, due to his activeness, always tripping or bumping himself into furniture. He's also a very alert child, noticing many things around him and 'unfortunately', even with his limited speech, can always find a way to voice his opinions on his subject of observation. There was one incident where this child saw his neighbour wearing an ugly blouse (in his opinion). He called her and said 'Tak cantik' (not beautiful), much to his mother's horror.

Mrs. C is the mother of a daughter who needs to be rushed in everything that she does. She's a real dawdle and her speed in doing things is always constant - slow in anyone's standard. She might be the first to take her shoes off the rack, but she always takes her own sweet time in wearing them. She will usually end up being the last to go home.

Mrs. L is the mother of a daughter who can be 'snobbish' at times. Sometimes, she would turn her nose up to other people, including teachers. But she is also one of the children who warms up easily to people. She's also the fashion icon in her class, with 'stunning' outfit and hairstyle.

All 3 mothers recounted how many tears they have shed when they found out their child has an extra chromosome. They didn't really understand what it meant at that time, though explained to by the doctors. All they knew was that their children are not normal and will be slow in learning. Mrs. L said her husband told her that he didn't like the baby. Mrs. L then responded, "What can I do about it? You can kill the baby but don't let me see it." She was almost in tears after telling me this, even after 7 years. Some hurt cannot really be forgotten over time.

Mrs. C recalled seeing children with Down Syndrome before she had her daughter and wondered why they were like that. Little would she have expected her own child would be one of them as well.

Mrs. T was not willing to give up on her son, as most would have, thinking that they won't be able to learn. She looked for services to help her son and was recommended New Horizons by a doctor. Mrs. T lives 1 hour away from Ipoh but she comes with her child diligently, come rain or shine. She can now proudly declare that even people asked her what she did with her son as he seemed quite bright as compared with another child of the same age with Down Syndrome as well. That child could not do anything for himself.

All 3 of them only understood what Down Syndrome means as they watch their children growing up. Mrs. L said her husband only started to accept and like his daughter when he saw the potential in her. She recalled in amusement how her daughter helped her fahter mopped the the entire floor in their house.

Mrs. C said her daughter does not like to do household chores. However, she likes writing and colouring very much. She will always take her books out when she comes back from kindergarten. She will flip the pages of the books to her teacher has marked for homework and then does her homework.

Mrs. T said her son can buy their bus tickets back to where they live on his own. He would speak in Cantonese if the bus conductor is a Chinese, and Malay if he's a Malay or Indian. Her son is not afraid of speaking to strangers and would talk to them in the bus.

These mothers told me that they are not afraid for their children's future seeing their potential. They are sending their children to special school and they know their children can work in sheltered workshop, and contribute to the society.

Their children are only 7 years old but they have already seen so much in them.