Language monitoring in multilingual patients

Multilingual tests

Djaina and Elke have been working on adapting the Dutch Linguistic Intraoperative Protocol into many languages, even the Japanese adaptation is now going to start (see pic in Japan). Together with the team, Djaina adminsters the language tests herself during awake brain surgery. “With these tests we can prevent the surgeon from accidentally cutting into brain areas that are important for language.” However, when se doesn't speak the language of the patient, she calls for help.

Multilingual patients

In her consultation room, Djaina sees many patients who speak a language other than Dutch, or patients who are multilingual. Djaina: “Before surgery, I discuss with the patient which languages are important and which we will monitor. We have to test each language separately, because different languages can be located in different areas of the brain.”

In the meantime, Djaina has already administered tests in Slovenian, Farsi, and Iraqi Arabic. To conduct these tests, she always relied on external help. Usually, Djaina quickly finds a suitable interpreter within her large network, but when she needed an Icelandic speaker, things became more complicated. Djaina: “I asked my entire network, contacted an Icelandic translation agency, and even sent an email to an Icelandic singer-songwriter. No one could help.”

The only option left was for the brother of the Icelandic patient to administer the tests via Teams, but according to Djaina this is highly undesirable. “It can be very emotional to see a loved one during surgery. That’s why we prefer not to involve family members.”

Help from an unexpected source

With just one day left before the surgery, Djaina came into contact with a potential candidate through the Icelandic singer-songwriter. Now it was a matter of hoping that this person was nearby. As it turned out, the intended interpreter was a nurse at Erasmus MC. “When I heard that, I could hardly believe it,” says Djaina. That very same afternoon, this lifesaver was present in the operating room.

Colleagues who speak other languages

This stressful search gave Djaina an idea. “There are probably many more people walking around Erasmus MC who speak less commonly spoken languages and could help. For example, I am still looking for someone who speaks Bulgarian, Maltese, Japanese, or Bahasa. If people speak one of these languages, or another, and would like to help me, I would be very happy to hear from them. The ideal tester is someone familiar with the clinical setting and able to come quickly on site.”

In the case of the Icelandic patient, the search certainly paid off: the surgery went well, and the patient’s language abilities have remained stable.

Sign up

In the meantime many colleagues from Eramus MC signed up. But if you are multilingual and you speak less common languages, you are not afraid of an OR and you would like to help Djaina? You can register by sending an email to d.satoer@erasmusmc.nl