In Australia, more than one million people need support to communicate and get their message across (SPA, 2024).
To celebrate Speech Pathology Australia Week 2024, we have been exploring the theme ‘communicate your way’ at CliniKids. We all communicate differently to express our needs and wants, share ideas and connect with others. There is no wrong or right way to communicate.
We invited our clients and their families to share their views and ideas on the ways they best like to communicate. Here is a summary of the diverse ways that our clients and families told us they like to communicate:
Here are some quotes from our clients and families:
- “If it’s someone I know, I prefer to talk to them. If I am angry, I might not talk. If it is a stranger, I prefer to use gestures or an adult to talk for me."
This quote illustrates how children have different communication styles depending on the context.
- “I love to act out my favourite TV shows and movies."
This quote illustrates how incorporating interests can often support a child’s regulation and facilitate them to communicate more.
- “I often use gestures and actions to share my feelings, or hand leading my parents to show them things."
This quote illustrates how communication is more than speaking and can involve the whole body. All behaviour is communication.
Communication looks different for everyone! It is vital that the community understands and embraces all the ways children communicate.
At CliniKids, our Speech Pathology team strive to support children to reach their full communication potential. If you would like further information about how one of our Speech Pathologists can support your child and family, please contact 08 6319 1133 or email clinikids.reception@thekids.org.au
A drawing by one of our clients showing how they like to communicate.