Your study level

We've preselected "All levels" for you, but you can change your study level at any time by choosing one of the options on this menu. Changing your study level will return you to the beginning of the module.

Close
Achieving control
A adult re-assures an anxious child
  • Children with complex need to achieve some control over their lives which also helps them feel safe and secure.
  • This means that the adult needs to be able to read their intentional and unintentional communication with the aim of being able to help children to communicate intentionally and consistently. This helps the child feel in control.
  • Improving communication is very helpful when considering how to develop relationships and promote positive behaviour.
Intentional communication

Watch this video clip in which a teacher explains how a trampolining session is used to develop a child's intentional communication.

  • Poster
                  Image
Examples of communication
A child smiles and interacts

As we have seen, children with complex disabilities may have very little speech and are likely to communicate through a range of other means, including:

  • Vocalisation
  • Head movements
  • Facial expressions
  • Tongue activity
  • Eye contact, gaze or eye-pointing, and
  • Hand and arm activity

It is often very difficult to interpret these signals. It is important, therefore, for adults who know the child well to work together to:

  • Discuss meanings.
  • To interpret meaning consistently.
Expressing preferences

Watch this video in which a headteacher and a teaching assistant describe how they try to establish how a child with pre-intentional communication expresses preferences.

  • Poster
                  Image
Challenges when interpreting communication
An anxious child holds his head in his
                  hands

It is sometimes difficult to interpret what a child with complex needs is trying to communicate, for the following reasons:

  • The communication is very brief and is not noticed.
  • The communication is not consistent.
  • The communication means different things in different contexts.
  • The communication means different things to different people.
  • The child is expected to have an opinion, e.g. between a choice of activities, when they may not have one.
  • Adults assume that they know what children like and don't like but the children changes their preferences over time.
Communication issues

Listen to Emma's mother, Ruth, talking about the issues of communication.


How does Emma communicate?


Why might people find it difficult to understand what she is saying?


How does Emma's communication affect her behaviour?

  • Poster
                  Image

Possible answers

Interpreting communication in practice
An anxious child holds his head

Keeping in mind a child you know with emotional and behavioural difficulties and where there is little open communication, have a look at these questions:


Further Reading
An open book

Porter et al (2001) have provided a useful step-by-step framework to help adults interpret the communication of children with complex difficulties.

 

Porter, J., Ouvry C. and Morgan M. (2001) Interpreting the communication of people with profound and multiple learning difficulties. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 29. 12-16.