ALL IN - Video Training Resources
Back to Modules HomeWorking with people with speech impairment
There are a variety of causes for speech disorders, but often the cause is unknown. Stroke and traumatic brain injury are common causes of communication disorders in adults. Some of the more common causes in childhood are hearing loss, autism, cerebral palsy, neurological disorders, brain injury and intellectual disability. Physical problems like cleft palate or lip (where the lip is split) or other physical deformities or injuries can also result in speech disorder
A person with a speech disorder has trouble in producing speech. This may mean they may have trouble making the sounds necessary for speech or they may be capable of making all of the sounds, but their speech is still not easily understood.
Strategies for communicating with people with speech disorders
- Pay attention and allow time for them to respond
- Reduce background noise
- Let the speaker know when you are having difficulty understanding them –it’s nice to know people are interested in what you have to say
- Ask for the information to be repeated or communicated in a different way e.g. with yes/no questions or in written form
- Repeat the part you have understood so they do not have to repeat the entire message
- Say what you thought they said
- Do not pretend to have understood when you haven’t
- Ask if they have a communication book or communication board or other device and ask how it is used
- Ask the speaker if it is OK to ask someone who knows them well to interpret.
Sometimes it can take a while to “get your ear in” and attune yourself to the speaker’s speech.
For more information:
- Maroondah Council: Communicating with People with Disabilities (446KB PDF)
- Disability Awareness Kit for training Public Library Customer Service Staff