The IAL News The International Association of Laryngectomees Vol. 60 No. 4 November 2015 Viet Nam Veteran Assists Vietnamese Laryngectomees By Larry Hammer, M.C.D Left to right- Larry Hammer, Speech Language Pathologist; Dr. Huynh An, Chief ENT; Laryngectomee patient and wife; Ms. Dang Thi Thu Tien, therapist. After having made a presentation on the communication of Laryngectomees following surgery and demonstrating the functional use of the electrolarynx, I turn the evaluation and training over to the physician and therapist to evaluate and train the Laryngectomee. I then serve as a “coach”. Viet Nam Laryngectomee Humanitarian Project In 1975 I completed my undergraduate studies at (VNLHP) made its most recent trip to Viet Nam in the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. It was the April 2015. Forty-three (43) electrolarynx devices year of the end of the Viet Nam War. I had served (ELD) were provided to indigent Laryngectomees in in the U.S. Marine Corps during that war during Ha Noi, Da Nang City and Hue City. Actively prac- 1968 and 1969. That was when I committed to ticing as a Speech Language Pathologist, I felt most someday return to Viet Nam to use my skills as a personally rewarded by being involved with the Speech Language Pathologist to serve the Vietnam- communication rehabilitation of Laryngectomees. ese people. I saw a significant number of people They are a unique and special group of people who who had suffered injuries that left them with a vari- have professionally motivated and inspired me for ety of disorders related to Continued on Page 6 36 years. Table of Contents Page 3 1 2 IAL About The IAL News Board Of Directors The IAL News is published four times a year by the Wade Hampton, President Table of Contents International Association of Laryngectomees. [email protected] Our Valued Advertisers Information provided by the IAL News is not in- InHealth……. Page 2 Vice-President—Vacant tended as a substitute for professional medical Ceredas….…. Pages 7 & 11 help or advice, rather as an aid in understanding Chuck Rusky, Treasurer Griffin…...…...Page 15 & 19 [email protected] problems experienced by laryngectomees and the Atos…..……... Page 20 state of current medical knowledge. Barbara Nitschneider, Contents Secretary A physician or other qualified healthcare provider Viet Nam Veteran ……..Cover Story [email protected] should always be consulted for any health prob- Assists Vietnamese lem or medical condition. Tom Cleveland Laryngectomees [email protected] The IAL does not endorse any treatment or prod- 2016 IAL and TLA .............Page 4 Candy Moltz SLP uct that may be mentioned in this publication. “Save the Date” [email protected] Please consult your physician and/or speech lan- guage pathologist (SLP) before using any treat- Rhodney Montague Carotid Stenosis………………...Page 5 ment or product. [email protected] Quit, Don’t Quit…………………..Page 5 Dr Brian Mitchell, DO The opinions expressed in the IAL News are those [email protected] of the authors and may not represent the policies Laryngectomee Clubs………..Page 7 of the International Association of Laryngec- John Ulrich tomees. [email protected] Chicago Symposium…………..Page 8 IAL Items Available Dental Issues and …………...Page 9 IAL Staff - IAL Brochures Hyperbaric Oxygen - IAL News order/change of address cards therapy Susan Reeves SLP - Orange Emergency Cards (English) Administrative Manager Silent Speech Interface: ...Page 10 [email protected] - Orange Emergency Window Stickers A Potential Speech (English) Marina Shankle Communication Tool with _“Laryngectomees Loving Life” DVD (35 Acting Editor, IAL News Quality Voice Output for [email protected] mins) ($10 donation requested) (May Laryngectomees also be watched on website) - “First Steps” Available to download from Donor list…………………………..Page 12 Website www.theial.com the IAL website Caregiver’s Corner…………...Page 13 Order From: IAL 925B Peachtree St. NE The Traveling Caregiver ...Page 14 Suite 316 Atlanta, Ga., 30309-3918 2016 Harvard/Stanford …….….Page 17 TEP Course Announcement Email: [email protected] IAL Announcements…………….Page 18 Toll-free: (866) 425-3678 3 Save the Date IAL and TLA Combine for Annual Meeting and Voice Institute Omni Hotel Park West Dallas, Texas IAL & TLA ANNUAL MEETING JUNE 24-26, 2016 IAL & TLA VOICE INSTITUTE June 23-26, 2016 Omni Park West, 1590 LBJ Freeway, Dallas, TX 75234 1-800-The-Omni / Hotel room rates: $115 per night (Includes breakfast) The International Association of Laryngectomees (IAL), Celebrate our organizations' histories, joins with the Texas Laryngectomee Associate (TLA), to bring the anniversary for the IAL and the 25th anni- successes and challenges with a socially versary of the TLA. The meeting will be held at the Omni and academically packed four days. Hotel Park West, Dallas, Texas. The hotel is large, com- YeeHaw! fortable, and located within easy driving to downtown Fort Worth and Dallas. Free shuttle service is available to and from the DFW airport. The Dallas Fort Worth Registration forms will be available online at Metroplex offers a wide variety of activities of interest in www.theial.com starting January. Reservations for the history, culture, and sports with a country-western flavor. reduced hotel room rate of $115.00/night (breakfast in- cluded), must be made by May 23, 2016 at the Omni Combining the resources of the TLA (local clubs of the Park West. Be sure to tell the hotel that you are attend- area) and the IAL, will give attendees the best personal ing the IAL/TLA conference when you reserve your room and professional experience. Laryngectomees, caregivers, so as to get the reduced rate. graduate students and professionals will all benefit; all the bases will be covered! Registration fees: Annual Meeting Registrants: $120 by May 23 ($150 after The Voice Institute will offer CEUs for Speech Language May 23, 2016) Pathologists and will continue to offer a unique education- al opportunity for graduate students interested in working Voice Institute Registrants: $120 by May 23 ($150 af- with the laryngectomee population. Students will learn ter May 23, 2016) from both professionals and laryngectomees. Mix and Speech Language Pathologists: $400 by May 23 ($450 match sessions will provide individual interaction for after May 23, 2016) questions and answers. 4 Carotid Stenosis and the Head Quit, Don’t Quit and Neck Cancer Patient By Elizabeth Durand, M.A., CCC-SLP By Dr. Brian Mitchell Some of you may be thinking the As most of you are likely title of this article refers to ciga- rette smoking. No, it is more aware, the carotid artery than that. The focus is on how (you actually have one on we handle challenges that come each side of your neck) is at different points in our life. We the main artery that car- all have choices when faced with ries blood from the heart difficulty or adversity. But, how to to the brain. In the mid choose and what to choose is an- other story. Sometimes we are portion of the neck the frozen still and unable to decide what to do. We artery divides into an external and internal compo- have come to a stage of “paralysis by analysis”. nent. Essentially it makes a Y with what referred We have looked at the options and still don’t to as an internal and external carotid artery contin- know what to do. We think to move forward, but uing upstream. The external carotid artery contin- fear holds us back. We consider doing nothing ues to further branch out and ultimately give blood but that does not help much either. We are locked in an “ approach-avoidance” syndrome. to the various aspects of the face/mouth/throat/ Advancing means to risk, but not moving forward neck region. The internal carotid artery extends eliminates facing uncertainty or the “imaginary into the skull and ultimately gives blood to the horribles”. brain. Carotid stenosis is a relatively common How to free oneself? How to break loose and problem in the US. Stenosis refers to narrowing of take action? Choose what will provide the most the artery with plaque buildup. As the narrowing growth. Is the choice life giving? Is it something gets worse, the blood flow to the brain can be af- that promotes the good not only for you but oth- fected. At the same time, there is a risk of plaque ers? Is it in keeping with your spiritual beliefs? breaking off and carrying upstream and blocking Does the choice provide a sense of peace or calm? blood flow to the brain. A stroke can result when there is impairment of blood flow to the brain. We It is hard to find stillness when from every angle “noise” blasts its way into our life. But stop know that smoking and high cholesterol are risks we must and be quiet. In silence we will find en- for developing carotid stenosis but radiation thera- lightenment, wisdom and a sense of tranquility. py to the neck is another risk. Over the past few And therein lies the answer that we fight desper- years, new attention has been given to screening ately to discover. patients who have undergone radiation to the head If we think more in terms of serving others and neck region. This is done primarily by having than what satisfies our needs, we will find great- an ultrasound of the neck done called a carotid ar- er joy. How can that be? For some reason the tery duplex. Our center recently researched this way the universe has been created we are meant topic and we now screen our patients at around 2 to feel better and more connected by giving than Continued on page 16 Continued on page 16 5 Viet Nam Veteran..