Talking about communication issues

For some young people, issues with speech, language and communication can make life very difficult. Matt Todd and Sue Burton discuss what you can do to improve their scouting experience.

More than a million young people in Britain struggle with communication. This can affect them severely and be a lifelong condition. For these young people, life can be frustrating, distressing and even humiliating, and activities that many of us take for granted, such as reading, writing or making friends, can be a huge trial.

Spotting the signs

There may well be a young person or leader in your scout group with speech, language and communication needs, but it can be difficult to spot the signs, even though the impact may be significant. If you think someone in your group has these needs, you can help them discover their potential by offering communication-driven activities.

How you can help

There are many ways of helping young people with speech, language or communication needs:

o Use simple and uncomplicated instructions, one point at a time.
o Demonstrate your instructions with actions.
o Check that young people understand what you are saying (by asking them or by having them explain the instructions back to you).
o To help those who struggle with concentration, use their name to prompt them to listen.
o Allow time for young people to listen and process what has been said. With time, young people will have a response, and will benefit from thinking time. You could try counting to 10 in your head after asking a question.
o Support what you say with visual cues or, if appropriate, drawings or diagrams, etc.
o Limit background noise when possible.
o Be patient. Stress will only make things worse.
o Do not ‘speak for them’, but provide choices if necessary.
o Let the young person know when you don’t understand something, and work together to help each other understand.
o Encourage alternative forms of communication, like writing, drawing and collaboration (one young person writes what the other says).
o Provide different opportunities for conversation – in pairs or small groups, for example – to help them find a comfortable setting.
o Use a range of communication methods, such as written materials, group presentations and technology.
o Keep the atmosphere relaxed.

Technology can play a big part in aiding communication

Ben, a scout, has cerebral palsy and is a wheelchair user. He uses a computer to communicate.

Ben has a DynaVox, giving him a full range of speech and language options to enable him to have conversations with his friends in scouts. The device has many different sections – people, places, emotions, actions and words. By using a switch, he makes a sentence. He then pushes a button and the DynaVox will say it out loud. This has allowed Ben to communicate in a way that was previously impossible for him.

Scouting is really important to him. ‘I love badges and leading my patrol in competitions. Without my DynaVox I couldn’t do all the stuff I need to do for badges.’

‘We’ve made some adaptations to the scouting programme,’ says Ben’s leader. ‘We give Ben a list of people who will be in his patrol so that they are in his system. Similarly, some words, which we might only use in scouting, are given to him so he can communicate. At the same time, patience is required as the process of writing can take a long time to complete. We also have to pick campsites with electricity so we can charge up the DynaVox.’