International journal of language & communication disorders
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Int J Lang Commun Disord · Oct 1999
Mother-child interaction revisited: communication with non-speaking physically disabled children.
This paper presents an in-depth analysis of the interaction between mothers and their severely physically disabled children who have motor speech disorders. The study was designed to partially replicate previous investigations, most notably those undertaken by Light et al., to examine if the patterns of conversation previously described were observed in interaction involving children of a wide age range. Twenty children who had four-limb cerebral palsy, with no diagnosed learning difficulties or sensory impairments, and who were between 2 and 10 years of age inclusive participated in the research with their mothers. ⋯ Findings support the two-pronged approach to intervention for children using augmentative communication systems that is now developing. Intervention should focus not only on the children, teaching them how to use their augmentative systems and to produce a full range of conversation skills, but also should focus on their carers. Training for carers aims to increase their interaction skills, teaching them how to facilitate and expand children's communication skills.