Discussing Health Conditions: Discussing Symptoms, Causes, and

Treatments

Unit 24ASL III

Discussing Health Conditions

In everyday conversations, you may find yourselves in situations where you need to explain complex ideas in ASL. This unit on health introduces you to language skills that will help you organize and discuss complex topics.

Discussing Health Conditions

This unit will prepare you to take complex information written on a particular illness, identify the important points to cover, organize the information into three areas; symptoms, causes, and treatments, and make a concise 5-minute presentation.

Describing Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

To explain the symptoms, causes, and treatments for a health condition, use the following sequence to structure the information:

1.Name the condition and briefly describe the symptoms.

2.Describe the causes. 3.Discuss treatment options.

a.Tell if it is curable. b.List treatment options on your weak

hand.

Example: Migraine

1. Name the condition and briefly describe the symptoms● To begin,

fingerspell the word “migraine” and then give a description of common symptoms associated with a migraine.

Example: Migraine2. Describe the causes

● To transition to discussing causes, use the rhetorical question CAUSE-WHAT?

● List the causes on your weak hand.

● Use raised eyebrows each time you refer to a finger on your weak hand to signal that you are naming the next cause.

● Since causes are often written as noun phrases, you must translate the phrases into action verbs. The following are examples of probable causes for migraines. Study how the noun phrases are translated.

for “birth control pills”for “food allergies”for “menstruation cycles”for “tension”for “not enough sleep

Example: Migraine3. Discuss treatment options: Is it curable?

● To transition to discussing treatment options, use a rhetorical question with the appropriate phrase to tell whether or not a condition is curable:

“can recover completely”“symptoms can be eliminated”“condition cannot be cured, but symptoms can be alleviated”“condition cannot be cured, but can be prevented”“condition cannot be cured, but symptoms can be controlled”

Treatment options (transition phrase vocabulary) - Is it

Curable? ● HEALTHY/STRONG/GET-WELL - This sign is

used when referring to the person’s recovery from an illness that affected the whole body like cancer or from being bedridden and then being able to get up.

● SOLVE/DISAPPEAR - This sign is used when referring to the eventual disappearance of symptoms such as sores, rashes, lumps, fevers, or headaches.

● LESSEN/REDUCE - In this case, this sign means to lessen the pain or symptoms associated with the condition.

● CONTROL - This sign means to maintain a constant level where fluctuations are common, e.g., blood sugar, blood pressure, or weight.

● PREVENT/BLOCK - This sign refers to actions taken to prevent damage to the body, or to prevent the body from succumbing to an illness.

Example: Migraine3. Discuss treatment options: List

● Like with causes, use raised eyebrows each time you refer to a finger on your weak hand before describing a treatment option.

● Take aspirin everyday to prevent headache.

● If that doesn’t work, go to a doctor to get medicine to help reduce the headache.

● Don’t eat foods like chocolate, cheese, coffee, red meat, liver, and alcohol.

● Massage the areas around your eyes, face, and temples to help reduce the headache.

● Exercising everyday will help. ● Put alternating hot and cold

compresses on your forehead to help feel better.

Translations - Treatment Options

Apply:

For phrases containing the word “apply,” such as to “apply pressure,” “apply ointment,” and “apply powder,” use a BCL or an ICL and show how it is applied.

● “apply ointment”● “apply pressure to the

point located at the base of the little toe…”

Translations - Treatment Options

Take:

For phrases containing the word “take,” use the following translations.

● “take vitamins or pills”● “take a shower”● “take some weight off”

Translations - Treatment Options

Use:

For phrases referring to medications and containing the word “use” such as “use nasal spray” or “use topical cream,” use an ICL to show how you take the substance. ● “use nasal spray”

When referring to objects like “use a cane” or “use a compress,” name or describe the object first and then use an ICL to show yourself using the object. ● “use cane”

Another way is to use the sign shown below followed by a sign naming the object (noun sign). ● “to use” (an object)

Translations - Treatment Options

Get:

Follow the phrase below with the fingerspelled name for a medicine like aspirin or painkiller, or give a brief description of how the medicine is taken and its purpose. ● “get medicine” (or get a

prescription)

● “get an injection or vaccination”

The sign below is also used for the phrase “to rid the body of toxins.”

● “get rid of dust, mold, and mildew”

Translations - Treatment Options

Avoid:

This is a general sign cautioning people to avoid something or to not do or eat something. You need to describe the action and then use this sign. ● “don’t do it, don’t take it, avoid”

This sign means to physically stay away from certain things, such as pets. ● “stay away from, avoid”

This sign means to eliminate certain things from your diet, such as red meat or alcohol. ● “eliminate, reject, avoid”

Translations - Treatment Options

Massage:

For phrases containing the word “massage,” use a BCL and show yourself massaging the specified location. ● “massage the area around the

eyes”

Soak:

For phrases containing the English words “soak (parts of body) in water” use the following phrases. ● “soak your feet in a bowl of water” ● “soak your body in a warm bath”

Treatment PhrasesChange Behavior:● change eating habits CHANGE EAT HABIT

● cut down on either REDUCE or CUT-DOWN

● reduce weight, either REDUCE or ELIMINATEstress, pressure

● lose weight DECREASE WEIGHT

● practice safe sex !IMPORTANT! fs-SAFE-SEX

● do not eat… (name of food) EAT “wave-no”

● eat a diet high in… EAT/ FOOD MUST LOT/ MUCH…

● fasting EAT NONE SEVERAL fs-DAYS (or whatever length of

time)

Treatment Phrases Physician’s Duties:

● blood transfusion may be required SUPPOSE FAIL, fs-BLOOD LCL:1 “insert IV” ECL:4 “flowing from tube to arm”

● surgery may be performed MAYBE MUST SURGERY

● getting an injection ICL:L “inject in arm or

buttock”

● medication can be prescribed GO-TO DOCTOR, GET

PILLS...

● hypnotic suggestion GO-TO DOCTOR HYPNOTIZE-you

Purpose of Treatments ● HELP - “to help, assist”

● REDUCE - “to provide relief from, to reduce, to relieve symptoms”

● PREVENT/BLOCK - “to prevent development, to prevent infection”

● FIGHT - “to fight the virus”

● KILL++ - “to fight the virus, eliminate the virus”

● HELP BODY ACCEPT - “to increase tolerance to certain allergens”

● HELP BODY MORE FLEXIBLE - “to increase flexibility”

● HELP BODY MOVE BETTER - “to increase mobility”

Purpose of Treatments● to prevent the development

HELP PREVENT PAINof nerve pain fs-NERVE

● to prevent infection HELP PREVENT

INFECTION

● to provide relief from nerve pain HELP REDUCE PAIN

to control severe symptomsHELP REDUCE …

(symptoms)

● to increase iron intake HELP INCREASE fs-

IRON IN BODY

● to protect the joints HELP PROTECT fs-

JOINTS

Purpose of Treatments

● help the patient relax HELP PERSON REST

● to fight the virus HELP KILL++ fs-VIRUS

● to reduce the sharp pain HELP REDUCE PAIN

● to reduce the burning sensation HELP REDUCE fs-BURN PAIN

● to relieve symptoms HELP REDUCE …

(symptoms)

to relieve stress by promoting HELP REDUCE PRESSURE relaxation

HOW? ENCOURAGE fs-RELAX

Ways of handling medication terminology

1. If the type of medicine has a standard sign, use it.

2. If the medication terminology is common and there’s no sign for it, fingerspell it out (i.e. “aspirin,” “peroxide,” and “Ben Gay”).

Follow with a description of a. how it is taken, andb. its purpose (i.e. “to reduce headache,” “to prevent

infection,” or “to provide relief”)

1. If the medication terminology is not common, you don’t need to fingerspell the word - just describe

a. how it is taken (pills, shots, nose spray) and b. its purpose

Take the word “CORTICOSTEROIDS” - explain that it is taken as a pill and that its purpose is to provide relief from pain.

Ways of handling medication terminology - Examples

vitamin B common/VITAMIN (shake-V) fs-B

have sign TAKE-PILL++ HELP BUILD

fs-IMMUNE SYSTEM

aspirincommon/

fs-ASPIRIN, TAKE-PILL HELP

no sign REDUCE HEADACHE

corticosteroids uncommon MEDICINE TAKE-PILL++ HELP PREVENT PAIN INCREASE++

anti-viral drugs uncommon MEDICINE TAKE-PILL++, HELP KILL++ fs-VIRUS

topical creamuncommon MEDICINE TAKE-PILL++

HELP PREVENT PAIN INCREASE++

Putting it All Together: Migraine Example● Condition:

Migraine● Symptoms:

throbbing pain on one side of the head or all over the headfeeling nauseouseyes becoming more sensitive to bright lightseyesight becoming blurry

● Causes:No one really knows what causes migraines. Headaches can be made worse from:

food allergiesbirth control pillsnot enough sleeptensionmenstrual cycles.

● Treatment:Aspirin sometimes helps for an existing migraine and can also be taken daily to reduce

migraine frequency. If aspirin is not effective, prescriptions are available for painkillers or drugs that are

designed to constrict the blood vessels surrounding the brain. Patients should cut down on eating certain foods that cause blood vessels to dilate such as

chocolate, aged cheese, liver, eggplant, and alcohol. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, red meat, food preservatives, MSG, and processed meats. Use hot and cold water compresses alternately on the head. Massage areas around the head, spine, eyes, and sinuses. Exercise regularly.

Putting it All Together: Migraine ExampleName condition, briefly describe symptoms (topicalization

structure)

Describe causes (rhetorical question)

Tell treatment options (rhetorical question)

fs-MIGRAINE, KNOW !BAD! HEADACHE, ONE “side of head” BPCL:5 “throbbing,” NAUSEA, EYES VAGUE(q/t), THAT-ONE(nod).

CAUSE “what”(rhet-q) NOT-KNOW(neg). BUT NOTICE HEADACHE WORSE HOW(rhet-q), (list on nondominant hand) IX “thumb” EAT++ BE-ALLERGIC++ CAN CAUSE HEADACHE, IX “index-finger” fs-BC TAKE-PILL++ CAN CAUSE HEADACHE, IX “mid-finger” NOT SLEEP ENOUGH CAUSE HEADACHE, IX “ring-finger” TIME-APPROACH(cs) MENSTRUATION, TEND-TO HEADACHE #OR IX “pinkie-finger” FEEL PRESSURE(ee) WORSE !HEADACHE!

fs-MIGRAINE CAN SOLVE #OR PREVENT (nod), HOW(rhet-q) (use weak hand to list treatment options) IX “thumb” fs-ASPIRIN, TAKE-PILL++ EVERYDAY HELP PREVENT HEADACHE, IX “index-finger” NOT+WORK(conditional), GO-TO SEE DOCTOR GET MEDICINE TAKE-PILL, HELP HEADACHE REDUCE, IX “mid-finger” FOOD IDEA+SAME-AS CHOCOLATE, CHEESE, COFFEE, RED+MEAT fs-lIVER, ALCOHOL, EAT “wave-no”(neg) IX “ring-finger” MAYBE FACE, EYES, ICL “massage areas” HELP HEADACHE REDUCE, IX “pinkie-finger” EVERYDAY EXERCISE HELP(nod), wh(SIXTH), HOT, COLD (2h)alt.ICL “put hot or cold water compresses alternately on forehead,” HELP FEEL BETTER.

Putting it All Together: Migraine Example

ReviewThroughout this presentation, you have learned the following:

▪ Describing Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments1.Name the condition and briefly describe the

symptoms. 2.Describe the causes. 3.Discuss treatment options.

a. Tell if it is curable. b. List treatment options on your weak hand.

▪ Transitions, Rhetorical Questions, and Listing

▪ Treatment vocabulary and phrases

▪ Medication Terminology