Intended for healthcare professionals

Rapid response to:

Clinical Review

Locked-in syndrome

BMJ 2005; 330 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.330.7488.406 (Published 17 February 2005) Cite this as: BMJ 2005;330:406

Rapid Response:

Communication Chart

The chart we used for my son, Erik, was designed taking the vowels
out of the alphabet and the dividing the rest of the alphabet into lines
an columns, reducing eye movements to convey responses. Here is the chart
we used:

1. B C D F G H

2. J K L M N P

3. Q R S T V W

4. X Y Z

5. A E I O U

We would ask the line first, then column 1 (left column) or column 2
(right column). Then ask each letter until the right one was identified
with an upward eye movement. Erik lost the ability to use the chart after
approximately 3 years from the time he was diagnosed with LIS. This
ability was lost after his second bout with pneumonia. We have now had to
resort to the guessing game of what he wants to convey.

Competing interests:
None declared

Competing interests: No competing interests

18 May 2006
Eddie R. Ramsey
Maintenance Supervisor
U.S. Postal Service 1605 Boggs Rd. Duluth, GA 30026