Using Speech and Language Therapy to Improve Communication During Family Gatherings

By Courtney Kornblum, M.A., CCC-SLP Family gatherings provide invaluable opportunities to form relationships, build on existing connections and create meaningful memories. While these get-togethers may bring joy and positivity, they may also pose challenges, particularly for individuals with speech and language differences. Preparing individuals for family gatherings, when communication challenges may be heightened, is where Speech and Language therapy comes in. Speech and Language therapy is integral in supporting individuals to gain the skills needed to become a proficient communicator. A certified Speech Language Pathologist is equipped to assess and treat the speech and/or language strengths and vulnerabilities of individuals across the lifespan. Individuals who present with a disorder in the realm of Speech may have goals producing accurate speech sounds (Articulation and Phonology), producing fluent speech, or may even present with a voice disorder. Individuals who present with a language delay or disorder may have difficulty understanding spoken language, understanding what they have read, producing spoken language, writing, or socializing. In a larger, family gathering setting, the production of less intelligible speech or difficulty formulating sentences to express oneself, may cause communication challenges to arise. There are many strategies that a Speech Language Pathologist may consider ahead of time to prepare an individual with speech and language differences for a large, family gathering.

The Environment

It is important to inquire about the environment with the goal of suggesting modifications or supports. If the gathering involves many family members or friends, the room may be loud, with the presence of background noise. This may make it harder to hear spoken language, require people to speak with a louder volume, and cause communication breakdowns. Knowing this ahead of time allows hosts to carefully configure the environment to ensure that a person who has a hearing loss, for example, is seated in a room that is quieter, with their back facing the noise. They may even think about lowering music or selecting a room for a meal with better acoustics.

Priming and previewing of expected language and problem-solving techniques

During speech and language therapy sessions, the certified Speech Language Pathologist may discuss what a person might say or do prior to entering a family gathering.

1. What will they talk about? Brainstorming topics of interest and topics of mutual interest is incredibly helpful. An adult relative may ask a young child about their favorite school subject, while their young cousin may use kid "lingo" to talk about a movie they just watched. Learning about different topics and considering topics that they may talk about in advance will boost their confidence when entering a conversation.
2. What might go wrong? It is also important to discuss what may go wrong during the gathering and how they may solve that problem. For example, what if it is too loud and they cannot hear anything being said? Thinking of ways to navigate this problem may result in the individual feeling more empowered to ask for the conversation partner to speak louder.
3. Identify tangible objects they may want to bring to the gathering. Storytelling is a powerful means of sharing about life experiences. Often, we look to recent pictures of events that just occurred. A Speech Language Pathologist may work with the individual to select pictures that they may want to bring with them to the gathering, identify a shirt with a preferred character/logo they'd like to discuss, or even locate a familiar game that they may want to bring along. It is important for these tangible objects to be shared with caregivers in advance, especially for young children, to make sure they make it to the gathering!
4. Provide opportunities to role play. Take time to practice what it will be like before entering the gathering.
5. What will they do if they feel overwhelmed? Family gatherings may be tiring or difficult, so it is important to empower the individual to take breaks if they need it or even identify a person they may turn to if they need help.

While the gathering is occurring, it is important for everyone to remember the goal of the family gathering: to make positive memories and build connections! Reducing demands and simply adjusting expectations to simply providing the individual with speech and language differences positivity and encouragement is key. Don't forget to take many pictures of positive moments to highlight later! Reminiscing about the fun game that the individual brought or story they shared about their recent trip with a picture, will positively reinforce their use of these beneficial strategies in the future. In conclusion, Speech and Language therapy is an incredibly powerful tool to fostering effective communication skills for individuals who may present with speech and language difficulties. With the right techniques and strategies, a Speech Language Pathologist can provide a client with the skillset and confidence for a successful, enjoyable and positive family gathering experience.