"What Pain Doesn't Say" Conference Tackles Disability Pain Expression

People with disabilities who struggle to express their pain in typical ways face a major challenge. This issue affects healthcare, education, and families, as shown at a recent conference called "What Pain Doesn't Say." The event, held last Saturday in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, was organized by the Canary Aldis Foundation with help from the Canary Islands Government and the Cabildo de Tenerife. Over 200 people attended, including experts, government officials, and families, all coming together to discuss a problem that often goes unnoticed.

The conference highlighted a need for a new approach to finding and dealing with both physical and emotional pain. Experts and officials agreed that when people can't express their pain, it greatly increases their stress and suffering, which can cause serious problems if not dealt with quickly. Ofelia Tabares, president of the Aldis Foundation, stressed that it's crucial to recognize not just physical pain, but also emotions, as unexpressed feelings can lead to illness.

Government representatives stressed the importance of public and non-profit organizations working together. Águeda Fumero, Social Action Councilor for the Cabildo de Tenerife, and Dulce Gutiérrez, Director General for Disability for the Canary Islands Government, praised groups like Aldis. They also spoke about how hard it is to help people who can't speak about their needs, noting that many families worry about diagnoses coming too late. José Manuel Cabrera, Deputy Minister of Education, and Candelaria Delgado, Minister of Social Welfare, called for ongoing training for teachers and better teamwork between government departments. This would help identify issues early and provide the right support, always focusing on the needs of vulnerable people.

Specialized talks offered different perspectives. Raimond Hilu, a specialist, explained that neurological differences aren't illnesses but simply different ways of communicating. He argued for understanding these differences rather than trying to "fix" them, highlighting that many factors influence brain development. Dr. Carla Ramírez presented 'precision medicine,' a personalized approach to care that focuses on prevention and involves the patient and their family. The goal is to help individuals reach their full potential through early support.

From the field of integrative medicine, physiotherapist and osteopath Quim Vicent promoted a holistic view of the body, where empathy and truly listening are key first steps. He warned that overly specialized medical approaches can miss the bigger picture. José Luis González explained that pain isn't just one simple thing but a complex system, and its natural protective role is greatly reduced when it can't be expressed. Occupational therapist Dafne Santana and augmentative communication expert Sol Solís emphasized that the body itself is a way to communicate. They called for 'neuroaffirmative' approaches, which means expanding how we talk about emotions and challenging the way pain is often oversimplified in research.

Families shared powerful stories about the emotional strain and constant worry of not finding solutions for their children's issues. They felt much of their children's distress came from the stress of living in a demanding world that isn't always set up for those who experience it differently.

The conference's overall conclusions stressed that medication shouldn't be the only solution. Instead, it's important to focus on prevention, personalized care, and involving many different types of professionals. Building trust and a good relationship between the patient, family, and professionals was also highlighted as crucial. If this trust isn't there, it's right to rethink how support is provided. The "What Pain Doesn't Say" conference is therefore a key event, pushing for more humane, understanding, and coordinated care, and creating fair, inclusive solutions for a situation that truly needs more attention.