At last week’s employee forum we heard about Sophia*, a 19-year-old patient with a history of moderate intellectual disability, Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Acquired Brain Injury secondary to a childhood stroke, epilepsy and vision impairment.
Recently, Sophia required a 3-hour electroencephalogram (EEG) to determine if she was having seizures, and if so, what type. The procedure involved sitting in front of a camera wearing the EEG cap while the recording took place – a considerable challenge for Sophia given her complex needs.
Matthew Yates, Head of the Centre for Developmental Disability Health (CDDH) recognised this challenge and the need for additional support for Sophia to undergo the procedure successfully.
“The odds of success for this patient were quite low,” he said.
“[We had to consider] – who else can help us achieve a good outcome for this patient?”
Given her age, Sophia no longer came under paediatric care and the additional support that this provides. Matthew decided to reach out to the adult Allied Health team and formed an interdisciplinary team to establish and execute a plan to give Sophia the best possible chance of success.
Involved in the planning was a member of the Neurophysiology Scientist team, Jacqui Idaszak, an adult music therapy lead, Jaye Thompson, Matthew Yates from CDDH, and Courtney McFarlane, a Disability Liaison Officer.
As a music therapist, Jaye had been working with Sophia’s mother who was a patient at Kingston. While Jaye had no capacity to support with the EEG on the day, using a family-centred approach, Jaye worked with Sophia’s mother, Sophia, and her support worker, to develop a personalized playlist for Sophia on the day of the EEG. Listening to familiar, preferred music can help patients feel less anxious and more at ease in an unfamiliar environment. “It redirects their focus to something that’s more engaging…to reduce distress or discomfort,” said Jaye.
A playlist was just one of the many techniques that contributed to the successful outcome.
The Neurophysiology Scientist team arranged for additional resources to be available – an iPad for Sophia to view her favourite shows – such as The Wiggles and Bluey – and a Bluetooth speaker from Music Therapy. The team was also able to provide social stories to help prepare Sophia for the EEG. Neurophysiology Scientist, Jacqui, then briefed the Senior Scientists in the Neurophysiology Scientist team to perform the EEG with Sophia.
“The more settled and relaxed patients are, the better the EEG recording,” said Jacqui.
Disability Liaison Officer, Courtney McFarlane, liaised with the support workers who would be accompanying Sophia at the EEG, and suggested practicing exercises at home, such as wearing a swimming cap and rubbing conditioner through Sophia’s hair to simulate the cap and gel of the EEG.
Ultimately, the EEG was a success, with the team producing a great reading. “Everyone brought their strengths and problem-solving abilities to the table,” said Matthew.
This outcome for Sophia was a commendable example of multidisciplinary teams blending their skills, perspectives, and backgrounds to create a comprehensive and holistic approach to patient care.
We thank all involved in making this process as smooth and comfortable as possible for Sophia and her family.
Approved by Julia Oxley, General Manager, Community
*name changed for privacy