What this section is about
Communication is not just speech. A child may talk well but still struggle to understand, process, explain feelings or communicate safely.
Avoid saying
- They can talk.
- Their speech is fine.
- They are verbal.
Better ways to explain
- Although my child can speak, they struggle to communicate distress, pain, emotions or needs clearly.
- My child takes language literally and needs adult support to understand instructions and social situations.
- When overwhelmed, my child may become unable to explain what is wrong.
Example wording
My child is verbal, but this does not mean they communicate effectively. When anxious, overwhelmed or dysregulated, they may be unable to explain their needs. They need adult support to interpret situations, understand instructions, communicate feelings and avoid escalation.
Evidence that helps
- Speech and language report
- School communication plan
- Social communication assessment
- Examples of misunderstandings
- Behaviour logs showing communication-related distress
Common mistakes
- Assuming speech means no communication difficulty
- Forgetting literal thinking
- Forgetting processing delays
- Forgetting shutdowns
- Forgetting inability to explain pain, fear or danger
Part of the Bright Steps Ultimate Guide. For the full interactive walkthrough with printable templates, sign in and visit the DLA Guide.