DCAL working with the Cognitive Disorders Clinic
26 February 2012
Do you know a Deaf British Sign Language (BSL) user who has developed memory or thinking problems? Appointments are now being offered for Deaf patients at a top UK neurology hospital.
DCAL
is working with The Specialist Cognitive Disorders clinic, at the
National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queens Square, London
to provide assessment services to Deaf British Sign Language (BSL)
users worried about their memory or cognition.
Diagnostic
assessment of neurodegenerative conditions for Deaf people has
traditionally been problematic due to a lack of standardised
neuropsychological assessment tools in BSL. New cognitive screening
tests are now available at the clinic which is accepting referrals of
patients who are Deaf BSL users. Deaf patients will be seen within the
existing cognitive disorders service for full medical and
neuropsychological assessment. Team members are fluent in BSL or use
the services of a BSL interpreter.
A UCL partner
The Cognitive Disorders Service runs in parallel with the Dementia Research Centre (DRC), part of the Department of Neurodegenerative Disease at the University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology (ION). The clinical and research components form a national centre of excellence for diagnosis and treatment of patients with cognitive problems, and the group is recognised internationally for ground-breaking research in dementia.
You can find out more at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery website.
The DCAL contact for this service is: Joanna Aktinson
There are some important stipulations for patient referral:
1) The clinic is only accepting referrals of Deaf BSL users with acquired rather
than
developmental cognitive difficulties where a decline in function has
occurred in adulthood, particularly those with suspected dementia or
neurodegeneration.
2) At present the clinic is unable to accept referrals of deaf patients who do
not know BSL. It is essential that the patient is a sign language user.
3)
Referrals are accepted from anywhere in the UK and should be made from
the patient's GP and clearly detail the problem. The GP must state in
the referral letter that the patient is a Deaf BSL user; otherwise they
can not be offered an appointment that is suitable for Deaf patients.
The GP should send their letter of referral to:
Dr Cath Mummery
Consultant Neurologist
Specialist Cognitive Disorders Service
National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
8-11 Queen Square
London
WC1N 3BG