History of Science 170 Blog Post #1
"Siblings Make A Difference: The Importance of Recognizing and Supporting Siblings"
By Nathan Grant
Siblings may undertake important roles and responsibilities for their brothers and sisters who have complex health conditions. According to researchers Sarah Hall and Zach Rossetti, siblings often serve as caregivers, service coordinators, guardians, and advocates for their brothers and sisters with disabilities (Hall and Rossetti, 2017). The importance of the sibling role is suggested in Dr. Henry Head’s case study of a patient who suffers from nominal aphasia following a brain injury. However, while Head’s patient relies on his sister for help and support, Head never discusses the experiences of his patient’s sister who is absolutely essential to his patient’s ultimate recovery.
In his piece Aphasia and Kindred Disorders of Speech, Dr. Henry Head presents a detailed case history of his patient, Captain E. N. C.. As Head explains, his patient was an extremely intelligent 30-year-old man who was in the army in the early 1900s. In 1918, Head’s patient fell off his horse and the hoof of his horse struck him in the left parieto-occipital region, fracturing his skull. The patient received surgery to heal his wound. However, he was left with severe nominal aphasia, or anomia, in which he could no longer adequately remember and express the name of objects (Head, p. 15). Head examines his patient’s in a British hospital over a period of five years, performing various writing, reading, fluency, arithmetic, and drawing tests to measure his patient’s progression. Head reports the results of these examinations in his case study.
Head’s case study is very different from others. For example, Head’s predecessor, Paul Broca, assessed his patient Tan only a few times and focused on finding the area of the brain responsible for Tan’s difficulty pronouncing words. Head’s analysis of his patient’s experiences over five years and his inclusion of his patient’s quotes inherently make Head’s case study unique. By assessing how his patient performs on tests over a five-year period, Head is able to discover just how much his patient has recovered from his injury. As Head explains at the end of his observations, “The patient showed profound improvement in his powers of symbolic formulation and expression” (p. 54). Consequently, Head’s case study is one of recovery and improvement which contrasts from former studies that focused on brain localization of function.
However, reading against the grain and the dominant focus on the patient’s test results, we see that Head’s patient discusses his sister in a few quotes throughout the study. The patient told Head that his sister takes him to the hospital and helps him so he does not get lost (p. 23). The sister also taught the patient music (p. 33). Furthermore, the sister also helped the patient practice his writing and write letters (p. 33, 51). Head mentions that the patient’s “sister, who was a trained Froebel [kindergarten] teacher, dedicated herself entirely to his welfare; she adopted her knowledge to the task of re-educating him and under her care he progressed greatly in speaking, reading, and writing” (p. 30). While Head’s case study shows that the patient’s sister served a key role as a caregiver and supporter, Head does not provide any other information about the sister. We do not know about the sister’s experiences and perceptions associated with having a brother with nominal aphasia. Why did the sister take care of her brother? Was it challenging for the sister to help her brother? Did the sister need support? What was the sister’s name?
Head only tells us that the patient’s sister was a teacher and helped the patient recover. The rest of Head’s study focuses largely on the patient’s recovery. Since the sister helped the patient learn to write and remember words, and because most of Head’s tests measured improvement in writing and fluency, it is reasonable to assume that the sister was largely responsible for helping the patient recover. It is frustrating that Head does not recognize and inquire about the sister’s experiences and needs. Recognizing and supporting the sister could have helped her adjust to her role as a caregiver, which could help her provide even better care for her brother.
Head’s case study shows that siblings are involved and play important roles in the lives of patients. However, Head’s study downplays the sister’s role and overlooks her story. While Head’s study was published in 1926, current research shows that professionals still overlook siblings and very little support exists for siblings today (Arnold, Heller, and Kramer, 2012). From Head’s case study, we see that siblings affect outcomes for those with complex health conditions. It is time for the medical community to pay more attention and provide more support to siblings.
"Siblings Make A Difference: The Importance of Recognizing and Supporting Siblings"
By Nathan Grant
Siblings may undertake important roles and responsibilities for their brothers and sisters who have complex health conditions. According to researchers Sarah Hall and Zach Rossetti, siblings often serve as caregivers, service coordinators, guardians, and advocates for their brothers and sisters with disabilities (Hall and Rossetti, 2017). The importance of the sibling role is suggested in Dr. Henry Head’s case study of a patient who suffers from nominal aphasia following a brain injury. However, while Head’s patient relies on his sister for help and support, Head never discusses the experiences of his patient’s sister who is absolutely essential to his patient’s ultimate recovery.
In his piece Aphasia and Kindred Disorders of Speech, Dr. Henry Head presents a detailed case history of his patient, Captain E. N. C.. As Head explains, his patient was an extremely intelligent 30-year-old man who was in the army in the early 1900s. In 1918, Head’s patient fell off his horse and the hoof of his horse struck him in the left parieto-occipital region, fracturing his skull. The patient received surgery to heal his wound. However, he was left with severe nominal aphasia, or anomia, in which he could no longer adequately remember and express the name of objects (Head, p. 15). Head examines his patient’s in a British hospital over a period of five years, performing various writing, reading, fluency, arithmetic, and drawing tests to measure his patient’s progression. Head reports the results of these examinations in his case study.
Head’s case study is very different from others. For example, Head’s predecessor, Paul Broca, assessed his patient Tan only a few times and focused on finding the area of the brain responsible for Tan’s difficulty pronouncing words. Head’s analysis of his patient’s experiences over five years and his inclusion of his patient’s quotes inherently make Head’s case study unique. By assessing how his patient performs on tests over a five-year period, Head is able to discover just how much his patient has recovered from his injury. As Head explains at the end of his observations, “The patient showed profound improvement in his powers of symbolic formulation and expression” (p. 54). Consequently, Head’s case study is one of recovery and improvement which contrasts from former studies that focused on brain localization of function.
However, reading against the grain and the dominant focus on the patient’s test results, we see that Head’s patient discusses his sister in a few quotes throughout the study. The patient told Head that his sister takes him to the hospital and helps him so he does not get lost (p. 23). The sister also taught the patient music (p. 33). Furthermore, the sister also helped the patient practice his writing and write letters (p. 33, 51). Head mentions that the patient’s “sister, who was a trained Froebel [kindergarten] teacher, dedicated herself entirely to his welfare; she adopted her knowledge to the task of re-educating him and under her care he progressed greatly in speaking, reading, and writing” (p. 30). While Head’s case study shows that the patient’s sister served a key role as a caregiver and supporter, Head does not provide any other information about the sister. We do not know about the sister’s experiences and perceptions associated with having a brother with nominal aphasia. Why did the sister take care of her brother? Was it challenging for the sister to help her brother? Did the sister need support? What was the sister’s name?
Head only tells us that the patient’s sister was a teacher and helped the patient recover. The rest of Head’s study focuses largely on the patient’s recovery. Since the sister helped the patient learn to write and remember words, and because most of Head’s tests measured improvement in writing and fluency, it is reasonable to assume that the sister was largely responsible for helping the patient recover. It is frustrating that Head does not recognize and inquire about the sister’s experiences and needs. Recognizing and supporting the sister could have helped her adjust to her role as a caregiver, which could help her provide even better care for her brother.
Head’s case study shows that siblings are involved and play important roles in the lives of patients. However, Head’s study downplays the sister’s role and overlooks her story. While Head’s study was published in 1926, current research shows that professionals still overlook siblings and very little support exists for siblings today (Arnold, Heller, and Kramer, 2012). From Head’s case study, we see that siblings affect outcomes for those with complex health conditions. It is time for the medical community to pay more attention and provide more support to siblings.
Bibliography:
Arnold, C.K., Heller, T., & Kramer, J. (2012). Support needs of siblings of people with developmental disabilities. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 50(5), 373-382. https://doi.org/10.1352/1934-9556-50.5.373.
Broca, P. (1861), “Remarks on the Seat of the Faculty of Articulated Language, Following an Observation of Aphemia (Loss of Speech), First published in Bulletin de la Société Anatomique,6,330-357, tr. Christopher D. Green.
Hall, S.A., & Rossetti, Z. (2017). The roles of adult siblings in the lives of people with severe intellectual and developmental disabilities. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 31(3), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.12421.
Head, H. (1926). Aphasia and Kindred Disorders of Speech, Vol. 2, “Case histories,” 14-54.
Arnold, C.K., Heller, T., & Kramer, J. (2012). Support needs of siblings of people with developmental disabilities. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 50(5), 373-382. https://doi.org/10.1352/1934-9556-50.5.373.
Broca, P. (1861), “Remarks on the Seat of the Faculty of Articulated Language, Following an Observation of Aphemia (Loss of Speech), First published in Bulletin de la Société Anatomique,6,330-357, tr. Christopher D. Green.
Hall, S.A., & Rossetti, Z. (2017). The roles of adult siblings in the lives of people with severe intellectual and developmental disabilities. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 31(3), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.12421.
Head, H. (1926). Aphasia and Kindred Disorders of Speech, Vol. 2, “Case histories,” 14-54.
Siblings with a Mission is a non-profit, international organization established to serve and support siblings of individuals with complex health conditions and developmental disabilities. All images are found on Google images and are solely used for educational purposes. The stories and advice provided by Siblings with a Mission are not to be replaced by professional advice and counseling but to be considered as an additional source of support.
