Language Disorder Australia is an organisation dedicated to supporting and advocating for children with language disorder, which is diagnosed when they fail to acquire their own language for no obvious reason.
Retail Pharmacy Assistants spoke with Language Disorder Australia’s Head of Allied Health, Lisa Quinn, who says awareness is crucial in enhancing understanding so that children can be connected early to appropriate services and support.
Tell us about your role and how you came to work at Language Disorder Australia.
As the Head of Allied Health, I lead an amazing team of more than 30 Allied Health staff consisting of speech pathologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists and music therapists. I’ve worked as a manager of allied health teams, speech pathologist and clinical educator across a range of settings, including health, education and university sectors. This role combines my passion for advocating for students with language disorder with my love for working with and leading a multidisciplinary team.
What are Language Disorder Australia’s vision and mission?
Our vision is to ensure extraordinary outcomes, beyond what anyone imagined possible, for children and young people with language disorder.
Our mission is to educate, support and advocate for children and young people with language disorder, so they can connect, belong and achieve.
What is language disorder?
With up to 10 per cent of people having a language disorder, it’s a common yet not well recognised disability.
It affects the way a person thinks about, understands, and uses language. Language disorder is a persistent and lifelong disability.
Difficulties in this domain can have far-reaching impacts – for example, on how a young person communicates their needs, makes connections with others, shares stories and requests help, and on their overall understanding, such as understanding instructions.
Signs of language disorder are often evident in the early years. Studies show that children with language difficulties at age five are likely to experience long-term and persistent problems throughout their lives.
Language disorder can be part of another diagnosis, such as autism or intellectual disability, or occurs in isolation with no known cause – known as developmental language disorder.
Why is it important to shine the awareness spotlight on Language Disorder Australia?
Having a language disorder can significantly affect a person’s life. It may present in various ways, including challenges with learning and using words and sentences to communicate, such as to convey thoughts, ideas and feelings.
It may affect a person’s understanding of instructions or their ability to follow conversations. It may impact reading, writing and academic attainment or challenges with establishing and building relationships.
Awareness builds understanding and ensures that individuals are connected with services and support mechanisms.
What effects can a developmental language disorder have on social and emotional well-being?
Children with developmental language disorder (DLD) are as able and healthy as other children – with one exception: they have great difficulty thinking about, understanding, and using language. They’re often as intelligent as other children their age, but still have difficulties with language. There may be no outward signs of disability or obvious physical indicators of a problem. For this reason, DLD is also known as a hidden disability. It affects one in 14 children.
Although DLD primarily affects language, children and young people with the condition may also have social and emotional difficulties. Research tells us that individuals without a diagnosis and appropriate support may experience poor mental health and employment outcomes.
Why is early intervention important for those experiencing a language disorder?
DLD is a significant and lifelong disability. Children with DLD won’t grow out of it. However, with access to early and quality intervention, children and young people with DLD can succeed academically, socially and professionally, and can live rich and fulfilling lives.
What services does Language Disorder Australia offer?
We have three major networks of support:
- Mancel College [at Fig Tree Pocket in Brisbane].
- Bright Door clinics [Fig Tree Pocket and Toowong in Brisbane, and Townsville].
- School support services.
Can you tell us a little about Bright Door clinics and how these are helping children and young people with language disorder and developmental problems?
Our passion for enhancing the lives of the children and young people we work with is shared across Bright Door’s team of experts and is the driving force behind everything we do.
We offer speech and language pathology, occupational therapy, psychology and counselling, music therapy and physiotherapy for children and young people with language disorder and other developmental disorders.
Can you tell us about Mancel College and how it helps to support children and young people with language disorder?
Based in the beautiful suburb of Fig Tree Pocket, Mancel College (previously known as the Glenleighden School) is operated by Language Disorder Australia.
At Mancel College, we group classes in pairs of year levels, excluding prep. By doing this, staff can cater to various needs and abilities within bands, while students work with age-appropriate peers.
Class sizes have around 12 students with a full-time teacher and school assistant. Therapists contribute to curriculum planning and the development of individualised support plans and individualised curriculum plans, as well as assist targeted students with skill development.
The College-based Allied Health team supports the academic outcomes of our learners with language disorder.
Therapists work alongside specialist teachers to utilise their clinical expertise, skills and knowledge in evidence-based practice to identify and address student barriers to learning. Interventions support specific learning difficulties – for example, reading, writing, maths – language and communication needs, social, emotional and relationship-building skills, gross and fine motor skills development, and functional independence.
These skill areas all form part of the core focus of Mancel College’s therapy team, with the primary goal of enhancing every student’s capacity to succeed at school so they can reach their full potential.
How can pharmacy assistants help to support the work that you do?
Pharmacy assistants can do many things to support individuals with language disorder in the community.
You can support the person’s understanding of your conversation by:
- Using clear and concise language.
- Slowing down your rate of conversation and being mindful of background noise.
- Allowing additional time.
- Breaking down the information into chunks.
- Using visual props or demonstrations.
- Writing down key information.
To learn more: languagedisorder.org.au
This feature was originally published in the February issue of Retail Pharmacy Assistants e-magazine.
