Investigation of practices to support the complex communication needs of children with hearing impairment and cerebral palsy in a rural district of Kenya: a case series

Bunning, Karen; Gona, Joseph; Buell, Susan; Newton, Charles R.; Hartley, Sally

doi:10.1111/1460-6984.12042

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Educational services were provided by two special schools and five special needs units on mainstream school sites. Some speech work was carried out by teachers in the residential school for the deaf, which was characterized by auditory discrimination, and sound and word production in rote learning tasks ( Bunning, Gona, Buell, Newton, & Hartley, 2013 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Caregiver Perceptions of Children who have Complex Communication Needs Following a Home-based Intervention Using Augmentative and Alternative Communication in Rural Kenya: An Intervention Note

Bunning

Gona

Newton

et al. 2014

Augmentative and Alternative Communication

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A high level of unmet communication need exists amongst children with developmental disabilities in sub-Saharan Africa. This study investigated preliminary evidence of the impact associated with a home-based, caregiver-implemented intervention employing AAC methods, with nine children in rural Kenya who have complex communication needs. The intervention used mainly locally-sourced low-tech materials, and was designed to make use of the child's strengths and the caregiver's natural expertise. A pretest-posttest design was used in the study. Data were gathered using an adapted version of the Communication Profile, which was based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) framework. The non-parametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test was applied to data from the first two sections of the Communication Profile-Adapted. Qualitative analysis was conducted on the final section. The data provided evidence of statistically significant positive changes in caregiver perceptions of communication at the levels of Body Structure and Function, and Activities for Communication. Also, analysis of the Participation for Communication section revealed some expansion to the children's social activities. The potential impact of the home-based intervention would benefit from investigation on a larger scale. Limitations of the study are discussed.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Caregiver Perceptions of Children who have Complex Communication Needs Following a Home-based Intervention Using Augmentative and Alternative Communication in Rural Kenya: An Intervention Note

Bunning

Gona

Newton

et al. 2014

Augmentative and Alternative Communication

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“…Analyses of obtained results suggest that speech impairments produce a negative effect on forecasting formation that further can lead to deviations in behavior in this category of children; the works of Sreckovic, Hume, and Able (2017); Mrachko and Kaczmarek (2017); Marshall, Harding, and Roulstone (2017); Sylvestre, Brisson, Lepage, Nadeau, and Deaudelin (2016); Bunning et al (2013); Bunning, Gooch, and Johnson (2017) prove this conclusion.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Features Of Verbal Communication Of Primary School Students With Visual Impairment

Nigmatullina¹

2018

The European Proceedings of Social and Behavioural Sciences

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“…Caregiver as agent for change using augmentative and alternative communication methods Health and educational provision; non-government funded organisations; professional therapy procedures within the health rehabilitation and special education sectors, key informant interviews with staff and structured observation of rehabilitation sessions designated as "speech therapy". Our findings revealed workforce deficiencies in health and educational provision, poor attendance of appointments by caregivers and their children, poor access at a community level compounded by inadequate transport systems (Bunning et al, 2014a, 2014b, Gona, 2014 and sub-optimal practice in the area of therapy for promoting speech, language and communication development (Bunning et al, 2013). One important finding to emerge was the relationship between the caregiver and the child characterised by supportive communication, such as shared use of gesture and self-expression.…”

Section: Disability Awareness Training To Established Community Groupsmentioning

confidence: 81%

Empowering caregivers of children with learning and developmental disabilities: from situation analysis to community-based inclusive development in Kilifi, Kenya

Bunning

Gona²,

Newton

et al. 2022

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Purpose Raising a child with learning and developmental disabilities in a low-income setting is challenged by inadequate resources, limited support and poverty. The impacts on caregivers include fatigue, distress and isolation. The purpose of this paper is to report on a programme (2008-2021) that was set up in Kilifi County, Kenya to investigate and address these difficulties. Methodology The programme used mixed methods through a series of interconnected studies, starting with a situation analysis, followed by a home-based intervention where the caregiver served as agent for change using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) methods. This was followed by two community-based inclusive development initiatives: disability awareness training to community groups and empowering self-help groups for caregivers of children growing up with disabilities. Findings The situation analysis revealed scarce support services for caregivers and children with learning and developmental disabilities, with report of limited resources, inadequate coverage and poor professional practice. A home-based, AAC intervention was associated with improved caregiver well-being, significant positive changes to caregiver perceptions of the child’s communication and some expansion to the child’ social activities. However, questions around sustainability persisted. Disability awareness training led by persons with lived experience of disability showed positive changes to the views, values and attitudes of established community groups. Caregiver participation in self-help groups was associated with their greater personal agency, perceptions of increased social support and reduced severity of child’s disability. Originality The programme narrative demonstrates a rationalised and evidence-based process for community-based inclusive development that is low cost, culturally acceptable, with potential for sustainability.

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Investigation of practices to support the complex communication needs of children with hearing impairment and cerebral palsy in a rural district of Kenya: a case series

Abstract: The assignment of speech and language therapy duties to teachers and occupational therapists has resulted in suboptimal practice for children with complex communication needs.

Cited by 6 publications

References 21 publications

Caregiver Perceptions of Children who have Complex Communication Needs Following a Home-based Intervention Using Augmentative and Alternative Communication in Rural Kenya: An Intervention Note

Caregiver Perceptions of Children who have Complex Communication Needs Following a Home-based Intervention Using Augmentative and Alternative Communication in Rural Kenya: An Intervention Note

Features Of Verbal Communication Of Primary School Students With Visual Impairment

Empowering caregivers of children with learning and developmental disabilities: from situation analysis to community-based inclusive development in Kilifi, Kenya

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