Can Speech and Language Therapists help victims of bullying?
When bullying occurs in schools it is generally the traditional school personnel who become involved in its resolution ñ teachers and head-teachers, for example.
Last year the Journal of Fluency Disorders published an article discussing the application of speech and language therapy strategies to support victims of bullying in schools: http://tinyurl.com/itsbullying. The article’s author describes different types of bullying: physical, verbal and relational. Physical bullying typically incorporates aggression and violence (e.g. pushing, kicking). Verbal bullying typically includes name-calling and negative insults. These types of bullying are generally easy to identify.
Relational bullying is less tangible. The articles author, Gordon Blood, states that, relational bullying occurs when a child’s attempts to socialize and form relationships with peers are rejected. For example, a child may not be allowed to participate in conversation with peers or to join in with a game in the playground. It is more difficult to spot this type of social exclusion in the playground rather than the more observable physical and verbal forms of bullying. Blood’s research suggests that most educational personnel perceive relational bullying to be a normal part of a child’s developing social experiences and would not be likely to intervene.
The article suggests that relational bullying may in fact be better addressed by speech and language therapy than by typical teacher-bully involvement. As a different form of bullying, it may be better addressed through different strategies ñ i.e. by not simply ignoring the bully or pretending to be unaffected. Blood states that victims of bullying typically experience academic difficulties, possibly resulting from decreased concentration and learning. They are at higher risk for developing emotional and mental health problems later in life, such as depression and anxiety.
Blood suggests that in cases of relational bullying, listening to the victim is essential, as opposed to confronting the bully directly. Speech and language therapists are particularly adept in these situations. They can also be of great benefit with regard to Blood’s final recommendation that victims of relational bullying are encouraged to extend their social network. As bullies tend to target the weakest link, they will often pick on children who have no social network. Blood suggests that if a child has one or two friends, they will be far less likely to be targeted. Speech and language therapists can provide support with social communication ñ helping children read social cues, manage their social behaviours and understand why any social interactions may have ended in confusion.
If you feel that your child may benefit from some speech and language therapy around their social communication, ITS has a team of experienced speech & language therapists who can be of great help: https://integratedtreatmentservices.co.uk/contact-us/
Sarah Bennington January 2011
Written on behalf of Integrated Treatment Services. ITS is a private Speech and Language Therapy service based in Leicestershire and the East Midlands. It specialises in providing highly-skilled Speech and Language Therapists, but also associates with other therapeutic professionals, including Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Psychologists and Arts Therapists.
