Tot- Patient from Physiotherapy- Speech therapy
Now eight years old, Tot first came to the Physiotherapy department at AHC in February 2011 to undergo speech therapy.
Born with a closed jaw, Tot was never able to open his mouth.
Although, he had found ways to cope with his special situation, speaking was never possible. While he could drink through a tube in his nose, eating was only possible getting liquid food through a hole in his jaw.
In January 2011 Tot was found by an NGO in the Kampong Thom province. They organised a jaw surgery which was performed in Singapore. During the surgery the jaw was opened and the tongue, which was found in the nasal channel, was sown to the bottom of the jaw. As a result Tot was able to open his mouth passively 3mm. Finally in early February, speech Therapy at the Physiotherapy Department at AHC began. Tot and his mother moved to Siem Reap to live with relatives in order to attend therapy every day. Meanwhile his father stayed at home in the Kampong Thom province with is five older siblings to continue supporting the family.
Although Tot is already doing much better and is now able to actively open his mouth to 1.5 cm and make himself heard much better, not being able to use his tongue has made the speech therapy a difficult procedure. In May 2011, Tot will be visited by a Singaporean surgeon who will be able to determine whether the tongue can be operated as well. Since April, Tot is back with his family and only attends therapy once a week. He still has a long journey ahead of him, but the well trained staffs of the Physiotherapy department is doing everything they can to make Tots life a little easier.
