Increasing Learner Authority in the Classrooms of Children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs

Supporting the mental health of children with speech, language and communication needs: the views and experiences of parents

10.31234/osf.io/xhsgd ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hannah Hobson ◽

Mya Kalsi ◽

Louise Cotton ◽

Melanie Forster ◽

Umar Toseeb

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Language Skills ◽

Children’S Mental Health ◽

Children's Mental Health ◽

Language And Communication ◽

Mental Health Support ◽

Language Needs ◽

Health Support ◽

Communication Needs

Background & aims: A high rate of children in mental health services have poor language skills, but little evidence exists on how mental health support is delivered to and received by children with language needs. This study looked at parental experiences, asking parents of children speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) about their experiences seeking help for their children’s mental health. We were particularly interested on the experiences of parents of children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), a specific SLCN that remains relatively unknown to the general public. Methods: We conducted an online survey of 74 parents of children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). Survey respondents included parents of children with a range of difficulties, including DLD, autism, verbal dyspraxia, global intellectual delay, a history of hearing problems, and SLCN without a primary diagnosis. Survey respondents were asked what sources of support they had accessed for their child’s mental health and to provide comments on what was good and what was not good about this support. We then conducted 9 semi-structured interviews of parents of children with DLD about their experiences. These were parents of children with DLD aged 7 to 17 years, from across a range of educational settings, and with a range of present mental health concerns. Results: Content analyses of the survey responses from parents of children with SLCN highlighted three broad factors of importance to parents’ experiences: relational aspects of care, organisational aspects of care, and professionals’ knowledge. Thematic analyses of the interviews of parents of children with DLD identified 5 themes: the effects of language problems on the presentation of distress; the role of the school environment; the role of key professionals; standard approaches to mental health support might not be appropriate; and the role and impact on parents. Parents expressed concerns that their children’s mental health problems and need for support would not be recognised, and felt interventions were not accessible, or delivered in a manner that was not comfortable for their children due to high reliance on oral language skills. Some parents were left feeling that there was no provision suitable for their children.Conclusions: Parents of children with SLCN face barriers accessing support for their children’s mental health, including a lack of professional knowledge about their children’s language needs. Parents argued that language and communication needs can significantly affect the delivery and success of psychological therapies and interventions.

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Police officers’ awareness of the speech, language and communication needs of young offenders

The Police Journal Theory Practice and Principles ◽

10.1177/0032258x20968591 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 0032258X2096859

Author(s):

AnneMarie MacRae ◽

Ann Clark

Keyword(s):

Police Officers ◽

Young Offenders ◽

Further Training ◽

Language Therapy ◽

Speech And Language Therapy ◽

Support Strategy ◽

Common Support ◽

Language And Communication ◽

Therapy Services ◽

Communication Needs

Around 60% of young people in conflict with the law experience speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). This study investigates Police Scotland officers’ awareness of the SLCN of young offenders, strategies officers use to support SLCN and their interest in further training on SLCN. A majority had worked with young offenders with SLCN and were fairly confident in recognising these needs. The most common support strategy was to involve outside agencies, specifically Appropriate Adults. Increased speech and language therapy services are needed to train Police Officers to recognise and support SLCN without reliance on other agencies.

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What has been achieved a year since Bercow: Ten Years On?

Journal of Health Visiting ◽

10.12968/johv.2019.7.7.336 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (7) ◽

pp. 336-340

Author(s):

David Hancock

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Children And Young People ◽

Language And Communication ◽

Independent Review ◽

Communication Needs

An independent review of provision for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs in England was published in March 2018. David Hancock reports on progress with the recommendations

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