Drawing Out Children's Talk

Level 2 / 11-19 Bank Place T 61 3 9642 4899 [email protected]
Melbourne Victoria 3000 F 61 3 9642 4922 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

Media Release

Saturday 16 May 2009


Drawing out Children's Talk

Children with speech impairments are often excluded from having a say in their own lives due to
society's over-reliance on verbal communication.

Speech impairments include difficulty talking and making speech sounds, and speech not being
clear to others. Over 20% of 4- to 5-year-olds in Australian have been identified by their parents
and teachers as having speech and language difficulties.

"With many studies seeking the thoughts and ideas of young people, typically in the form of
questions or conversations, this is very difficult for those with speech difficulties," said co-author
of an innovative study, Sharynne McLeod, professor of speech and language acquisition at
Charles Sturt University.

Professor McLeod said, "It is therefore important to explore alternate methods of exploring these
children's lives. One powerful and child-friendly method for doing so is drawing.

"Drawing provides children with the opportunity to communicate in a familiar and nonverbal
manner, offering potential for thoughts and feelings to be expressed visually," she said.

McLeod's recent study of over 150 preschool children, aged 4 5 years, with speech
impairments, aimed to `listen' to children drawing about talking.

"Through their drawings, the results showed: children can express talking and/or listening in their
drawings, the children typically portrayed themselves as talking to a family member or friend and
most drawings conveyed that talking with these people was a "happy" event. However, some
children expressed negativity; for example one child with a severe speech impairment drew
himself in black and no conversational partner and said that he usually felt sad about talking
because "they don't let me play."

"Many children conveyed talking via emphasising and enlarging ears and mouths, the proximity of
the people talking, or cartoon/picture book conventions of talking, such as soundwaves and
speech bubbles. Some of the children with speech impairments drew their conversational
partners with large ears, possibly because they needed to listen carefully.

"In future assessments of children with speech impairments, it may be a consideration for speech
pathologists to include children's drawings in their assessment protocols, in order to explore
children's perceptions and insights into their own talking and how this impacts on their lives.

"Although drawings have a long tradition in the fields of psychiatry, psychology and
education, they have seldom been used to explore children's views, particularly the views of
those with communication impairments," said Professor McLeod.

Studies of childhood impairment or disability have typically focussed on education and service
provision, and have accessed views from parents and service providers rather than attempting to
directly obtain the experiences and views from children themselves.

Professor McLeod and colleagues Erin Holliday, Jane McCormack, Associate Professor Linda
Harrison and Associate Professor Lindy McAllister will present the research results at the
National Conference of Speech Pathology Australia, Aspire, in Adelaide this week.

An art exhibition of the children's drawings will be opening the Conference on Sunday 17 May.

The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited
ABN 17 008 393 440




Level 2 / 11-19 Bank Place T 61 3 9642 4899 [email protected]
Melbourne Victoria 3000 F 61 3 9642 4922 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au








Media contact


To coordinate an interview with Professor Sharynne McLeod please contact:
Caroline Huze, Speech Pathology Australia, National Marketing & Communications Officer:
0402 919 839 or 03 9642 4899 or [email protected]


About Speech Pathology Australia

For more information visit: www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

Speech Pathology Australia is the national peak body for more than 4,500 members.
The Association supports and regulates the ethical, clinical and professional standards of its
members. The Association also lobbies and advocates for people with communication and
swallowing difficulties.

The Association's annual awareness-raising week, Speech Pathology Week, will be held 23 29
August 2009, with the theme `Communicate to Participate'.


Speech Pathology Australia's 2009 Conference

Local and international industry experts will examine topical issues at this year's conference.
The Conference theme is ASPIRE Advancing Speech Pathology Innovation, Research and
Excellence.
Held at the Adelaide Convention Centre, the conference will run from May 17 - 21, 2009.



























The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited
ABN 17 008 393 440