Communication
We communicate to share our experiences, ask for things we want, refuse the things we do not want, and to tell people how we feel. Communication gives us choice and control over our everyday lives.
Children start to develop communication and language abilities from birth. We can divide these abilities into receptive abilities and expressive abilities. Having receptive language means that you can understand what other people communicate to you. Having expressive language allow you to convey meanings to other people. We often use a combination of different ways to communicate such as body language, body movement, and facial expressions. Others might express themselves using sign language or vocalisations or a communicative device rather than speech.
People with Baker-Gordon syndrome can have difficulties with both receptive and expressive language. In our 2022 article, we describe delayed speech and language development in 21 out of 22 people with Baker-Gordon syndrome. Some people with Baker-Gordon syndrome were using words and phrases to communicate, some were using single words only and others were not using speech to communicate.
If you have concerns about your child’s communication or language development, we encourage you to discuss these with your family doctor or hospital consultant. A referral to your local Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Service is usually the most appropriate place to access advice and treatment. Speech and language therapists or special educational needs teachers will want to find out more about how your child communicates to help them to further develop and support their communication.
Below are a number of questions that you can ask your speech and language therapist regarding your child’s communication:
▪ How can I help my child’s communication development at home and work towards the goals we set in speech therapy?
▪ Can I participate in my child’s speech therapy sessions?
▪ What are little signs of progress I can look for in my child’s communication development?
▪ Can you recommend any resources in the community that would support my child’s communication?
UK resources:
https://www.afasic.org.uk/
https://www.communicationmatters.org.uk/about-us/