Premium
Assessing and Intervening in the Communication Environment
Author(s) -
Bradshaw Jill
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
british journal of learning disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1468-3156
pISSN - 1354-4187
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-3156.1998.tb00050.x
Subject(s) - intervention (counseling) , set (abstract data type) , psychology , communication skills , perception , hearing loss , learning disability , multiple disabilities , challenging behaviour , audiology , developmental psychology , applied psychology , medical education , cognitive psychology , medicine , computer science , psychiatry , neuroscience , programming language
An approach to implementing a total communication environment with a man who has severe learning disabilities, a profound hearing loss and challenging behaviour is described. This involved teaching the staff team visual modes of communication and supporting staff to use these methods. The intervention was evaluated by conducting observations of the communication acts taking place prior to and one year after the intervention. Improvements were found in the amount of communication acts which were accompanied by signs and the range of communication functions employed. Changes were also reported in the communication skills set of the person with learning disabilities. Staff's perception altered from seeing him as someone who was challenging, to someone who was challenged by his hearing loss and communication difficulties.