Various aspects of brain and mind and their association with disability were brought out by visiting experts from the U.K. at the Tamil Nadu Conclave on Disability Management here on Saturday.
Delivering the 3rd Smt. Madhuram Narayan Lecture, Michael Kerr, professor of Learning Disability Psychiatry, and honorary consultant in Neuropsychiatry at Cardiff University, Wales, stressed on the need to have a multi-disciplinary approach. Using case studies from his practice, Professor Kerr stressed on the importance of a team effort that would have to comprise experts from various disciplines able to transform disability to ability.
Facilitating networks with participation from a broad range of professionals and including patient representation would be a positive way to proceed, he said. Stressing that this might sometimes require professionals to move out of their comfort zones, Professor Kerr added that this would have to be accompanied by reducing societal barriers, and optimal health and psychosocial care.
Daniela Pilz, consultant in medical genetics, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, analysed how brain malformations cause disability, while delivering the 7{+t}{+h} Dr. Lakshminarayanan Lecture, on the occasion. The range, type, and severity of the disability are largely determined by the extent of and/or the affected area of the brain, associated malformations in other organs, and in some cases, also the cause.
Thomas Bak, president, World Federation of Neurology, Research Group on Aphasia or Cognitive Disorders, focussed on language and disability. He was delivering the 9{+t}{+h} Shri Appa Rao Lecture at the Voluntary Health Services, Taramani. Often language is perceived a luxury, and is not considered essential for a person. The next in a series of four lectures was the 7{+t}{+h} Prof. Krishnamoorthy Srinivas Lecture, delivered by K.P.Sivaraman Nair, consultant in neurology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, UK. Professor Nair examined if it was indeed possible to stimulate the brain to reduce neurological disability.
Krishnamoorthy Srinivas, chairman, Neurosciences India Group, conferred the oration awards on the speakers. He also released the autumn and winter edition of Neurolinks , published by Neurosciences India Group and The Institute of Neurological Sciences, VHS. E.S.Krishnamoorthy, director, TINS-VHS, spoke about the conclave, organised along with Confederation of Indian Industry, and on the theme of the public forum.
