Adapting Language & Communication

Language is complicated! Each language contains over a million words! Language shapes the way we see the world, it allows us to understand what is happening around us and to share our thoughts, feelings and experiences with other people.

One of the best ways to support people to manage in situations they find tricky, is to change the way we use language and how we communicate with them. Some children and young people may have specific difficulties understanding and using language. This may have an impact on their behaviour in certain situations.

Children with neurodevelopmental profiles can struggle with many aspects of language and communication, which can be a huge source of frustration and misunderstanding. This may include difficulties: following longer instructions, understanding more abstract questions, working out what people mean, understanding when someone is joking, being able to find the right words for what they want to say, being able to hold a conversation, making sense of other people’s tone of voice and facial expression.

Follow the links below for more information about each of the different areas of language and tips for how you can support children and young people who may find these challenging.