Thinking before Speaking

So, today's hurdle was one that I suspect many, if not most, SLTs go through on a daily basis.  The tactical way to approach parents.

This week I've sat in on many Annual Reviews of which the parents have all been in attendance (hooray no DNA's!) and have written a couple of end of year SLT Reports.  My biggest hurdle has been altering my communication - and I'm sure non-SLTs that may have stumbled across my blog are thinking - "but aren't you an expert in communication?" - well it still proves difficult from time to time, that's the honest answer!

I've had to adapt my writing style to be able to discuss the child's difficulties in a positive light, whilst still being realistic about the child's progress over the year and where the child's problems lie so that relevant support stays in place - and this sounds easier said than done! All technical lingo goes out the window and everything you could say face to face is too informal. 

But then in face to face scenarios you have to tread even lighter! At least if you write something in a report that you think doesn't sound positive enough, or you need to rephrase a sentence detailing the child's progress to still provide motivation to continue with the therapy, you can just delete and re-write! However, in a face to face meeting you really have to be wary of thinking before speaking - something that I don't tend to do in my day to day life! And each set of parents is different - the up-front and honest approach might work for some, but for others a different approach may be necessary - so tread lightly!

But both the annual reviews and the reports were a success - in relative terms mind you!

So its definitely my thought of the day: how we as SLTs need to learn to adapt our communication for the audience (in this case the parents!!) - something that many of our children and young adults with Speech, Language and Communication needs struggle to do.  It's eye-opening to even spend a second in their shoes - not being 100% sure that what you say is going to be taken in the right way and worrying if you will be able to make your point understood, and having to have that pause to really think before you speak, something that these children are challenged with every time they want to communicate!

Communication is a powerful tool so we all need to think before we speak!