I have been looking into communication disorders that affect children and found a great website that explains what a communication disorder is, characteristics of children with communication disorders, and how communication disorders affect learning/education. The site is: http://www.cec.sped.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Communicative_Disorders&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=37&ContentID=5626. According to this site, "Children with communication disorders have deficits in their ability to exchange information with others. A communication disorder may occur in language, speech, and/or hearing. Language difficulties include spoken language, reading and/or writing difficulties. Speech encompasses such areas as articulation and phonology (the ability to speak clearly and be intelligible), fluency (stuttering), and voice. Hearing difficulties may also encompass speech problems (e.g., articulation or voice) and/or language problems. Hearing impairments include deafness and hearing loss."
Communication disorders can be incredibly frustrating both to the individual with the disorder and his/her family members. The site above goes on to explain that children with communication disorders may have difficulty: following directions, initiating and attending to a conversation, pronouncing words, perceiving what is said, expressing oneself, and/or being understood. Can you image how frustrating it would be to not be able to express your wants or needs, for others to not understand what you are saying, or for you to not understand what others are saying to you? Communication disorders affect family members too. It can be extremely challenging and isolating to not be able to effectively communicate with your own family member. Your child or brother or sister not being able to talk to you, not following your directions, and not initiating any type of conversation, even a simple "Hi" or "I love you" can be very stressful and can affect bonding and the type of care and support children receive. Luckily, there are resources and therapies available to help children and families learn to communicate effectively, such as SLP's, speech therapy, and augmentative and alternative communication. In later blogs I hope to discuss in more depth how communication disorders affect families (positively and negatively), specific communication disorders, and resources that are available to help these children and their families.
Megan,
ReplyDeleteThis is very good. I like how you incorporated some resources that provide us details of your topic, and then take this information and use it to imagine real-life scenarios in which you might find yourself. Do you have any specific personal experiences that relate to this topic? Do the types of approaches that SLPs take apply broadly to communication disorders, or are specific interventions needed for specific problems? These are just some of the things you may wish to consider as you continue blogging. Keep it up!
Gabe
Hi Gabe,
DeleteThank you for your comments. I do have some personal experiences with SLP and will try to tie that in when I talk about the certain disorders I have encountered. SLP's do use specific interventions for specific disorders. My goal is to talk about one disorder at a time, how that disorder might affect a child and his/her family, and what interventions/resources are availble to them.