Q.1.What kinds of
rehabilitation process do blind people have to go through?
Rehabilitation specialists for the blind and visually impaired guide
them on living life smoothly with their handicap. They are taught the
sighted guide technique, the use of the white cane, travel safety tips
and the use of currency notes. They learn to perform daily chores like
cooking, grooming, dressing and personal hygiene. Visually impaired
patients are taught to read and write the Braille language and use
computers, telephones and typewriters in Braille. Some people may be
given optical aids to help them see. Vocational training in fields such
as candle making, chalk making, motor rewinding and the like.
Rehabilitators for the blind work with ophthalmologists, opticians, counsellors and low vision practitioners to ensure
the best possible treatment for the people in their care. Here are some
helpful rehabilitation resources for visually impaired people and their
families –
Q.2. How do drug
and alcohol addicts get over their habit?
The rehabilitation process of drug or alcohol addicts begins with an
initial psychosocial examination. A process of detoxification follows
during which the patient is medically stabilized. The patient is taught
about the complexities of addiction and related issues. They are not
allowed to use any addictive substance during this period. Individual
therapy and group therapy sessions follow. There may also be family
therapy programs where the counsellors meet
and discuss the addiction problem with the patients’ family. After
being discharged, a patient will have to visit the rehabilitation
centre periodically for relapse prevention and continuing care. Drug or
Alcohol Addicts can access rehabilitation services at the following
centres –
Q.3. What are the
rehabilitation options available to the orthopedically disabled?
Some people with locomotion disabilities
were born deformed while a majority has had their foot amputated due to
an accident, injury or disease. The Jaipur foot is an artificial limb
that was developed in the city of
Jaipur
in 1968. It consists of a foot piece, a socket and a joint. There are
two kinds of Jaipur artificial limbs – one that fit above the knee and
one that is meant for people who have been amputated below the knee.
Patients who have paralysis in their leg due to polio are prescribed a
device called a ‘calliper’. This helps them
walk comfortably and lead a normal life.
Rehabilitation of the orthopedically
handicapped involves an initial evaluation with a team of experts that
comprise an orthopaedic surgeon,
physiotherapists, occupational therapists, prosthetist, social worker
and vocational counsellor. Reconstructive
surgery may be performed. After this, physiotherapy services are
provided through hospitals and outreach camps. Patients are taught how
to use the prosthetic limb and given vocational training to help them
get a job. Here is a list of a few organizations that help an amputee
walk again -
Q. 4. How do I quit
smoking?
Quitting smoking
is not an easy thing to do. No two people are alike, which is why
doctors prescribe different treatments to tobacco addicts. A few people
may be able to quit through sheer determination but most people need
classes, drugs, therapy and other products to help them out. Some
products commonly recommended by doctors and therapists at tobacco
rehabilitation centres are non-nicotine pills, nicotine gum, nicotine
inhaler, nicotine nasal spray or a nicotine patch. Ayurvedic medicines
and relaxation techniques like yoga are also used to help smokers kick
their habit.
People who quit
smoking live longer, healthier lives. Their chances of having a heart
attack, stroke or cancer also decrease. Here are some organizations
that help people get over tobacco addiction -
Q. 5. How does one
rehabilitate mentally challenged people?
People with mental disorders may be
rehabilitated through chemotherapy, psychotherapy, occupational
therapy, spiritual therapy and other alternative therapies. Long-term
patients are given vocational training to promote their well being.
Patients who complete the rehabilitation process have to attend follow
up programs and regular checkups. Here are some centres that treat
mentally challenged patients -
Q.6. How
does one rehabilitate a schizophrenic?
Schizophrenia is
a mental disorder where the patient experiences disorganized thinking,
speech problems, delusions, hallucinations and auditory hallucinations.
Most patients of this disorder are in the age group of 15 to 35 years.
Schizophrenia can be easily treated especially if it is discovered in
the initial stages.
One of the most
common ways of curing Schizophrenia is through the use of antipsychotic
medication and atypical antipsychotic medications. Patients may also be
given dietary supplements like Omega-3 fatty acids which are found
naturally in foods such as oily fish, flax seeds and walnuts.
Therapies such as electroshock and psychosurgery may be sometimes used
as a treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy, remediation therapy and
cognitive enhancement therapy are also used to cure patients of
schizophrenia. Patients may sometimes need to be hospitalized depending
on their condition. Some places where you can seek treatment are -
Q.7. How are the hearing
and speech impaired rehabilitated?
Deafness may be caused by an illness, an
injury or through genetic inheritance. Some people fall in the ‘hard of
hearing’ category while others are deaf before they can learn a first
language. Different levels of deafness require different procedures for
rehabilitation. You can check your level of hearing by clicking here.
When you walk into a deaf and dumb
rehabilitation centre, a team that consists of audiologists, speech
language pathologists, special educators, psychologists, social
workers, ENT specialist, paediatrician and a
neurologist will examine you. You may be recommended surgery or fitted
with a hearing aid or ear mould depending on their diagnosis. Patients
who are unable to speak will be given speech and language therapy that
includes learning the sign language, lip reading and other behaviour
modification tips to lead a normal life. Some patients may be
prescribed medications. Counselling sessions that include the impaired
and their family follow. Most rehabilitation centres have follow up and
outreach services to check up on the condition of the patient
regularly. The deaf are provided vocational training in computers, accounting,
printing and beauty culture which enables them to get a job in local
companies. Some institutes that can help you out are –
Q. 8. Which institutes
provide rehabilitation services for sports injuries?
Participation in
strenuous sports can lead to injuries of the rotator cuff, groin, knee,
shoulder, wrist, ankle or the elbow. Problems that bother many
sportspersons are torn ligaments, sprains, strains, fractures, elbow tendonitis,
Achilles tendonitis and hamstring injuries. A team of sports
physiotherapists, orthopaedic surgeons,
sports medicine therapists and trainers conducts the rehabilitation of
people with sports injuries.
Medication and
surgery may be prescribed as part of the initial treatment. They may
have to wear braces or use crutches and wheelchairs for a short time.
According to the type of injury, the sportsperson may be advised a
period of rest to heal the pain and swelling. This is followed by
specific strengthening and flexibility exercises. Alternative therapies
like yoga, sports massages and hydrotherapy may also be used. Here are
some places where you can seek relief -
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