Conveying Ideas

Schools sometimes make parents believe that speech and language issues disappear by 4th or 5th grade when they no longer want to provide specialized speech and language services; however, that is not true. Language needs increase and change in complexity over time, so in fourth and fifth grade the increase in complex language demands are just beginning. Do you realize that what you say to someone to get your needs met is based on your ability to take their perspective? Did you realize that feelings are undoubtedly the result of getting your needs met or not met, but if you don’t know what your needs are you are hard pressed to understand the feelings that relate to those needs. When we speak we are using many different skills at once, in order to, figure out who, what, and how to say something. We have to take others perspective, look at the larger context as well as the personal context of the situation. Every situation is different, and we have to evaluate the context and situation to be effective. Is it a wonder that when communication goes wrong it creates such havoc?