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Developing
Communication Repair Strategies
When
verbal communication with a child who is deaf or hard of hearing
is not understood, the child may look confused, bluff by nodding
or saying “uh-huh”, or respond inappropriately. When this
happens, the adult should utilize a communication repair strategy
rather than repeating what was said. By adults using communication
repair strategies early in life with their child, they model
strategies the child can later utilize when they don’t understand
what is said. Different strategies work for different situations.
If one strategy doesn’t work, try another.
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Re-cap
what you did hear and ask for confirmation/correction (e.g.
"You want to play with ducks? Oh, you want to play
with trucks.").
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Correct
factors which interfere with communication (e.g. turn off
dishwasher, face your child with the light source on your
face, give your child your undivided attention and repeat
using clear speech.
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Give
contextual cues (e.g. “Let’s wash hands.” [demonstrate]
“Then we can make cookies.” [show ingredients for making
cookies].
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Give
closed set choices (If “What would you like to drink?” is
not understood, show your child the milk carton and bottle
of juice saying: “Do you want milk?” [hold out milk] “or
apple juice?” [hold out apple juice].
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Use
gestures and elaborate (e.g. If “Get your shoes” is not
understood, point to your shoes on your feet and say “Get
your blue shoes by the door” and point to shoes by the door.
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Simplify
using a key word (e.g. say “BLUE shoes”, point to something
blue in the room and then to your child’s feet or to your
shoes.
If
none of these strategies work, sign while voicing or encourage
your child to show you what is wanted.
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