The parents of children with speech and language handicaps may have difficulty coming to terms with their children's problems. Such difficulties are frequently not acknowledged, and help is rarely provided. This article describes some of these problems and reports the results of a series of parents' groups which were offered to meet the parents' needs. The results indicate that even minimal input can form a basis for support, clarification, and resolution of difficulties.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Aram, D. and Nation, J.1980: Preschool language disorders and subsequent language and academic difficulties. Journal of Communication Disorders13, 159-70.
2.
Baker, L., Cantwell, D. and Mattison, R.1980: Behaviour problems in children with pure speech disorders and children with combined speech and language disorders. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology8, 245-56.
3.
Bishop, D.1979: Comprehension in developmental language disorders . Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology21, 225-38.
4.
Black, D.1982: Handicap and family therapy. In Bentovim, A., Gorrell-Barnes, G., and Cooklin, A., editors, Family therapy, Volume 2, London : Academic Press.
5.
Bronfenbrenner, U. and Crouter, A.C.1983: The evolution of environmental models in developmental research. In Kessen, W., editor, Handbook of child psychology, Volume 1, New York: Wiley.
6.
Byrnne, E. and Cunningham, C.1985: The effects of mentally handcapped children on their families . Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry26, 847-64.
7.
Evans, E. and MacAdam, E.1988: Parent effectiveness groups. In Dryden, W. and Trower, P. , editors, Developments in cognitive therapy, London: Sage.
8.
Fielding, D.1985: Chronic illness in children. In Watts, F., editor, New developments in clinical psychology , New York: Wiley.
9.
MacKeith, R.1973: The feelings and behaviour of parents of handicapped children . Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology15, 524-27.
10.
Robinson, D.1980: The self-help component of primary care. Social Science and Medicine14, 415-21.
11.
Satow, A. and Evans, M.1985: Working with groups. London : Health Education Council.
12.
Silva, P.1980: The prevalence, stability and significance of developmental language delay in pre-school children. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology22, 768-77.
13.
Silva, P., McGee, R. and Williams, S.1983: Developmental language delay from 3 to 7 years of age and its significance for 7 year low intelligence and reading difficulties . Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology26, 528-38.
14.
Silva, P., Justin, C., McGee, R. and Williams, S.1984: Some developmental and behavioural characteristics of seven-year-old children with delayed speech development. British Journal of Disorders of Communication19, 147-54.
15.
Wolfendale, S.1986: Ways of increasing parental involvement in children's development and education. In Harris, J., editor, Child psychology in action, London: Croom Helm.
16.
Yalom, I.D.1975: The theory and practice of group psychotherapy, second edition. New York: Basic Books.
