An Exploration of Communication Skills in Unemployed Young Men

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An Exploration of Communication Skills in
Unemployed Young Men

• Natalie Elliott
• nelliot_at_glam.ac.uk

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Research Aim

• To explore the communication skills of unemployed
  young men

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Study Objectives

• Specific objectives are to estimate
• The prevalence of verbal expressive language
  difficulties
• The prevalence of verbal receptive language
  difficulties
• The prevalence of impaired eductive abilities
  (non verbal IQ)
• The prevalence of specific language impairment
  (SLI)
• To explore the relationship between communication
  skills and long-term unemployment

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The Literature
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Previous Research

• Researchers have explored various impairment,
  disability and participation outcomes for
  individuals with communication impairments
• However, the long-term prognosis of childhood
  communication impairment is still not fully
  understood
• The relationship between communication impairment
  and employability has received limited research
  attention

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Clegg et al (2005)

• Follow -up study in UK
• 20 boys diagnosed with developmental language
  disorder at 7yrs
• Followed-up in their mid-thirties
• Two control groups were used siblings and male
  volunteers with matching non-verbal intelligence
• 18 (3) of the experimental group had been in
  regular employment throughout their adult lives
  compared to 94 (15) siblings and 74 (1023) of
  the control volunteers
• Clegg, J., C. Hollis, et al. (2005).
  "Developmental language disorders- a follow-up in
  later adult life. Cognitive, language and
  psychosocial outcomes." Journal of Child
  Psychology and Psychiatry 46(2) 128-149.

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Felsenfeld et al (1994)

• Follow -up study
• Normally developing children US
• Followed up aged 32-34 yrs
• Interviewed occupational achievements
• Group A - documented history of articulation
  difficulties until at least the first grade
  (n24)
• Group B - at least average articulation skills
  over the same period (n28)
• Both groups had similar levels of employment.
  However, group A tended to occupy jobs considered
  semiskilled or unskilled with greater frequency
• Felsenfeld, S., P. A. Broen, et al. (1994). "A
  28-Year Follow-Up of Adults With a History of
  Moderate Phonological Disorder Educational and
  Occupational Results." Journal of Speech,
  Language and Hearing Research 37 1341-1353.

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• Communication skills are embedded in jobs of the
  21st century (Ruben, 2000)1.
• Communication skills are often classified in the
  employment literature as occupational
  non-specific skills required by employers across
  industries (Anderson and Marshell, 1996)2.
• 1. Ruben, R. J. (2000). "Redefining the survival
  of the fittest communication disorders in the
  21st century." The Laryngoscope 110(2, Part 1)
  241-245.
• 2. Anderson, A. and V. Marshall (1996). Core
  Verses Occupation- Specific Skills, DfEE
  Departmant for Education and Employment.

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• A major survey of employers (ALBSU, 1993)1. found
  that their demand for educational basics has
  risen particularly the need for communication
  skills
• It is recognised by government that there are
  deficits in skills for employment (including
  literacy and communication skills) and that this
  needs to be addressed (E.g. The Leitch Review,
  2006, Opportunity, Employment and Progression
  making skills work DWP, 2007 Ready for work
  full employment in our generation, 2007 Skills
  for Life strategy, 2001)
• 1.Basic Skills Support in Further Education,
  ALBSU, (1993)

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• Because most employers require good
  communication skills this may jeopardize the
  opportunity for people with communication
  impairments to access and sustain employment.

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Method

• Participants (n76)
• Convenience sampling
• Men aged 18-24 years
• Unemployed for a minimum of 6 months on EZ
• Living in Wales

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Phases of research

• Phase 1
• Subtests of a standardised assessment of language
  skills (TOAL-3) to assess
• -listening vocabulary
• -listening grammar
• -speaking vocabulary
• -speaking grammar
• The standard progressive matrices (Raven et al,
  2003) to estimate non-verbal IQ
• Phase 2
• 6 month follow-up by telephone

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Results- Phase 1

• Table 1 Prevalence of SLI described using
  chronological age referencing

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Results- Phase 1

• Table 2 Prevalence of SLI described when
  participants with a performance IQ below the 5th
  percentile were classified as having global
  learning difficulties

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Results- Phase 2

• Are communication skills important for gaining
  employment? (N70)
• 38 (54) participants had some employment, 32
  (46) participants remained unemployed
• Speaking skills - (independent groups t(68)
  t-1.67, p0.04) with a small-medium effect size
  (Cohens d0.41)
• Listening skills - (independent groups t(68)
  -1.67, p0.06) with a small-medium effect size
  (Cohens d0.38)

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Conclusion

• The prevalence of SLI in a cohort of unemployed
  men (n76) aged 18-24 in Wales was considerably
  above the 1 prevalence found in the UK general
  population (Enderby, 1989)1. This was true
  regardless of the standard used to define SLI.
• Analysis of data from Phase 2 suggests that
  language skills are likely to influence
  attainment of employment.
• 1.Enderby, P. and P. Davies (1989).
  "Communication Disorders planning a service to
  meet the needs." British Journal of Disorders of
  Communication 24 301-331.

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• Johann von Goethe

• Knowing is not enough we must apply.
• Willing is not enough we must do.

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The Future
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Partnership
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Thank you..

• The 76 young men who participated
• SHORT studentship jointly provided by The
  University of Glamorgan Cwm Taf NHS Trust
• Supervisors
• - Dr Rachel Iredale
• - Dr David Rowe
• - Dr Alison Stroud
• Working Links

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Questions..