Breaking the silence
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General information
This is one of the most interesting projects in IFMSA-Poland which started in 2003 years ago in Bialystok (one of our Local Committees) in cooperation with the Polish Association for the Deaf.
Today it is run in 9 out of 11 Polish Medical Universities, in the Netherlands (2005) and Italy (2006) and new ones are developing in Lebanon, Romania and Greece.
"Breaking the Silence" nowadays is an official national project of IFMSA – Poland, which aims to provide medical students with information and knowledge not only about language but also about their life and culture.
Good contact between doctor and patient helps to make a proper diagnosis and has a positive influence on the treatment. What is more, 70 % of the diagnostic clues comes from the conversation with the patient. Unfortunately, for the most of doctors sign – language is a barrier. Teachers often describe students the following situation: "When Mrs. X decides to see a gynecologist, first she has to go to the translator and tell him what she suffers from. Then the translator describes everything in the written form and doctor receives this document…". Sign – language courses facilitate communication with deaf people and give patients an opportunity to improve their sense of safety.
"Breaking the Silence" program consists of 60 hours of practical exercise and short lectures both for beginners and advanced students. First level includes 400 words while second includes 600 words. Lessons take place in groups of 15 – 20 people. Teachers, who instruct students are recommended by the Polish Association of the Deaf. Due to their experience during the courses students not only learn signs – lectures give them an opportunity of better understanding the problems of deaf people’s society.
The sign language course for medical students consits of 60 hours of practical exercise both for beginners and advanced level. The students learn in groups of 30-40. Course fee is 50 Euro and the course duration is 6 months.
First level courses contain alphabet, numbers and approximately 400 words.
On the other hand, our mission is also to promote the right of every deaf person to enjoy an equality in all aspects of life, and to develop full independence and citizenship.
Participation in the project is available to all IFMSA national members who decide to form the project in their country. You can examine the problem in your country on www.wfdeaf.org or contact the project coordinator: breakingthesilence[at]ifmsa.pl!
Did you know that...
- 250 million people in the world have hearing impairment
- 2/3 of these people live in developing countries
- Adult-onset hearing loss ranks 15th amongst the leading causes of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD), and
- 2nd in the leading causes of Years Lived with a Disability (YLD).
Some people were born deaf, however some people lost the hearing after they had learned some languages. In addition to normal consequences of aging, people may experience sudden temporary or permanent changes in hearing at any time in their lives. A nontrivial portion of the population experiences some degree of hearing loss, and may not always notice software alert sounds. As we age, more of us will develop age related disabilities: 25% by age 55, jumping to 50% at age 65. Due to WHO reports over 250 million people in the world have hearing impairment.
What is a sign language?
A sign language (also signed language) is a language which uses manual communicatino instead of sound to convey meaning - simultaneously combining handshapes, orientation and movement of the hands, arms or body, and facial expressions to fluidly express a speaker's thoughts.
Contrary to popular belief, sign language is not universal. However, when people using different signed languages meet communication is significantly easier than when people of different spoken languages meet. Sign language in this respect gives access to an international deaf community.
Sign languages develop in deaf communities, which can include interpreters and friends and families of deaf people as well as people who are deaf or hearing-impaired themselves.
Goals
The main goals of the project are:
- Educational: To teach students the sign language
- Social: To eliminate barriers
- Medical: To improve communication between doctors and deaf patients
- Great fun ;-)
Future Plans
- The development of the project in the Local Committees
- Cooperation with other organizations
- Cooperation with other countries interested in the project
How to organize?
- Examine the problem in your country (www.wfdeaf.org)
- Convince the other LOMEs to take part in this project
- Get help from your medical school
- Get support from other organizations
- Organize course with students
- Have fun with new experience ;-)
