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Breath hold techniques for the hard of hearing

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2022 3:46 pm
by nicola_mullins
We have a SABR patient that will require a breath hold technique. The patient is hard of hearing, can we please ask what methods other centres have used to communicate with the patient in these circumstances. Thanks

Re: Breath hold techniques for the hard of hearing

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2022 4:10 pm
by jen_scharff
We have used our real time coach in those instances so the patient could see when they were in the correct breathhold position.  As for when they needed to hold their breath and when they could release their breath, the therapists would turn on and off the room lights.  Hope you have a real time coach!!  If not, the turning the lights on and off is a start.

Re: Breath hold techniques for the hard of hearing

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2022 4:32 pm
by hilde_r__fossum
Never done it but if you can communicate with some kind of light, that would probably do the trick:)

Re: Breath hold techniques for the hard of hearing

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2022 5:22 pm
by gisbert_weigl
Hello,



we use a tablet on which the breathing curve is displayed, including the area for Gating.

It should be possible also for a patient with hearing problems.



Kindly regards



Gisbert

Re: Breath hold techniques for the hard of hearing

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2022 5:35 pm
by jose_aguilar
Here at Mayo clinic Az we are fortunate to have in house engineering for our linacs. Our service engineer( Mike Armstrong) came up with a visual device  for hearing impaired patients to see a light ,which we operate with a  pushbutton in the control room. He actually used our QA phantom cable to connect this device.

Re: Breath hold techniques for the hard of hearing

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2022 6:28 am
by stefano_leva
Hi Nicola,

I don't know how your system works but I agree with Jen, you can turning on and off the lights in order to communicate with the patient.

Re: Breath hold techniques for the hard of hearing

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2022 10:28 am
by hisham_dardas
Amazing topic thanks for your efforts

Re: Breath hold techniques for the hard of hearing

Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2024 11:04 am
by ben_allen
Hi, we asked our technical services team to rig a wire in to the room attached to an led light (through the cable port). We switched the light on to indicate the patient needed to hold their breath (using RTC too) and switched it off when she could breathe normally. It worked really well.

Hope this helps.

Ben