Communication and speech and language therapy: the views and experiences of primary school children

1
Communication and speech and language therapy
the views and experiences of primary school
children with communication difficulties, and
their peers

• Rosalind Owen1, Sue Roulstone1 2, Jane Dalrymple1
• 1Faculty of Health and Social Care, University of
  the West of England, Bristol 2Speech and
  Language Therapy Research Unit, Frenchay
  Hospital, Bristol

2
Childrens participation

• Current models of childhood and disability
  suggest that children have great potential to
  participate in decisions about their needs and
  care, if specific methodological challenges are
  addressed

3
Childrens rights

• UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989
• Article 12
• State Parties shall assure to the child who is
  capable of forming his or her own views the right
  to express those views freely in all matters
  affecting the child, the views of the child being
  given due weight in accordance with the age and
  maturity of the child.

4
Health and Education Policies

• Special Educational Needs Code of Practice 2001
• Children and young people with special
  educational needsshould, where possible,
  participate in all the decision-making processes
  that occur in education...They should feel
  confident that they will be listened to and that
  their views are valued.
• Every Child Matters 2003
• Real service improvement is only attainable
  through involving children and young people and
  listening to their views.
• National Service Framework for Children 2004
• Standard 3 Children and young people and
  families receive high quality services which are
  co-ordinated around their individual and family
  needs and take account of their views.

5
Research Question

• This study looks at childrens experiences of
  communication, and what emerges as important for
  them.
• This is in order to inform practitioners of a
  range of childrens perspectives and explore
  methods that facilitate childrens participation
  in therapy.

6
Project Overview

• Phase 1 2005 Group interviews with 33
  mainstream school children (age 6-11)
• Phase 2 2006 Individual case studies of 10
  children referred to speech and language therapy
  (age 6-11)

7
Techniques

• Interviews (average 41 mins)
• Questions
• Illustrations
• Drawing materials
• Snacks
• Audio and video recording transcription

8
Ethical considerations

• Selection
• Informed consent
• Respect to privacy
• Protection
• Feedback and ownership

9
Childrens vocabulary about communication

• Some people cant speak or hear and they got to
  do some sign language.
• We sat down and talked about it.
• Peoples trying to talk to me but Im listening
  to the TV.
• Did she tell? No. Shed have been the one
  getting in trouble if she told.
• Yeah, but you just said you were. So you are.
• There was one thing I didnt understand.

10
Childrens view of communication
Company (alliance, entertainment, friendliness,
co-operation, shared play, seeing people)
Abnormality (being weird, not like us,
different, having problems)
Conflict (negotiation, arguments, social rules,
enemies, behaviour, discipline)
Learning (ability, independence, growing up)
11
Company
Conflict
Abnormality
Learning
12
Conclusions

• Childrens perspectives
• Techniques and materials
• Being child-focused

13
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14

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