- Do you wonder if your client is able to understand complex concepts in therapeutic programs, discussions around legal, financial and medical issues or even in discussions about re-offending?
- Do you doubt whether your client is able to think and talk about their own thoughts and feelings or whether they can perspective-take and discuss other people’s thoughts and feelings?
- Does your client seem to have trouble proving clear, detailed and well- sequenced recounts of events or situations?
- Do you wonder if your client has trouble interpreting and taking into account non-verbal communication such as tone of voice, facial expression and body language?
- Does your client seem to understand the words in a spoken message literally but be unable to work out the underlying meaning or the speaker’s intent?
- Do you think your client has trouble reading and understanding official documents and might benefit from Plain Language or Easy English versions of these texts?
- Does your client have unusual ways of socializing or interacting with others or do you think that their social or communication style might be getting in the way of them getting a job?
If so…. your client may have an ‘invisible’ communication disability and a communication consult from a suitably qualified and experienced speech pathologist may be of help.
A Communication Consultation may:
- Help you to understand your client’s communication strengths and vulnerabilities and how their communication profile may be affecting their everyday interactions and on their ability to benefit from correctional programs
- Help you to apply strategies that will improve communication between you and your client
- Help your client to have a better understanding of their unique communication profile and the impact it might be having on their life and various roles including as a worker
- Teach your client how to apply strategies to reduce the impact of their communication difficulties on their daily lives
- Provide guidance around customizing therapeutic programs to better cater for your client’s particular communication profile
- Help you understand what your client might be trying to communicate through their anti-social or challenging behaviors
What’s involved?
A Communication Consultation may involve all or some of the following components:
- Initial briefing with referrer to get a snapshot of the issues for the client and the reason for the referral
- Comprehensive review of previous cognitive, mental health, and other relevant educational or allied health assessment reports (often relevant information about the client’s communication can be extrapolated from reading these reports and fed back)
- Detailed interview with key support or direct worker around the client’s communication in everyday situations and what strategies are working so far
- Participation in Care Team Meetings to get a full understanding of the breadth of the client’s communication difficulties from different points-of-view
- Informal assessment of the client through observation and interaction with them in a low pressure activity
- Formal speech, language and communication assessment of the client
Please note that whilst a formal communication assessment is helpful, a great deal of useful information can be obtained about the client’s communication profile without this needing to occur. In addition concern that a client may not engage in the process should not deter a referral as often a secondary consultation approach can be equally effective.
The assessment is followed up by a feedback session where the client’s Communication Profile is used as a forum to problem-solve with the Care Team better ways to support the client. A separate feedback session with the client can be arranged if the client wishes.
