The Sunday Independent Online published an article this month called, “Why Don’t They Like Me?” You can read the article in its entirety here: http://www.iol.co.za/sundayindependent/life/why-don-t-they-like-me-1.1100787
The article paints a picture that will be familiar to many – a nine year old child is described by her classmates as being “a bit weird”, has unusual body language, doesn’t quite understand how to join in with peer group games and tends to talk ‘at’ her classmates instead of listening and talking ‘with’ them. As a result, this child often finds herself playing alone at break time.
Although this child’s speech and language abilities may be fine, her social skills are reduced, especially if they are impacting upon her ability to form and maintain friendships.
Although social communication is not a ‘typical’ speech and language problem (i.e. not the more commonly thought of stammer, lisp or language delay), it is very much an issue that can be well supported through intervention by a qualified speech and language therapist. Difficulties with social communication tend to be associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), including Asperger’s Syndrome. However many schoolchildren and adolescents do not meet the specific criteria needed for a diagnosis of ASD, but nonetheless display difficulties with social communication that require more formal input from a speech and language therapist.
As social skills are so tightly interwoven with the formation and maintenance of interpersonal relationships, having a difficulty in this area can be very distressing for children. It can be particularly difficult for adolescents, who may begin to recognise that they are ‘different’ from their peers and have difficulty ‘fitting in’ with their immediate peer group. Support from a speech and language therapist can be highly beneficial in raising their awareness about their communication style, in a sensitive manner, and practicing new skills and strategies to help in day-to-day life. Some individuals respond particularly well to 1:1 work, whereas others respond well to group-work or functional practice in the settings where they’re like to have difficulty.
If you think you or a family member may benefit from speech and language therapy around social communication, Integrated Treatment Services could be of help. Contact us here: https://integratedtreatmentservices.co.uk/contact-us/enquiry/
Sarah Bennington July 2011
Written on behalf of Integrated Treatment Services. Integrated Treatment Serviecs 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.
