A Collaborative Approach to Serving Children with Emotional/Behavioral Disorders

Summary

The speaker, a speech and language pathologist, shares insights from her experience working with children with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD), emphasizing the complex relationship between communication and emotional issues. She discusses a specific case of an eight-year-old boy named Roberto, highlighting the challenges faced by children with EBD, including aggression and social difficulties. The presentation underscores the importance of interprofessional collaboration among educators and healthcare professionals to support these children's communication and emotional needs, advocating for integrated educational approaches to foster positive interactions and skills necessary for their development.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker emphasizes the importance of interprofessional collaboration in addressing the needs of children with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD).
• 😀 Roberto, an 8-year-old boy, serves as a case study illustrating the challenges faced by children with EBD, including aggression, attention difficulties, and social interaction issues.
• 😀 Many children with language disorders also exhibit symptoms of EBD, highlighting the co-occurrence of these conditions.
• 😀 Effective communication is essential for children with EBD to express their feelings and needs, which is often hindered by their language deficits.
• 😀 Social skills groups are instrumental in teaching children strategies for positive conflict resolution and improving social interactions.
• 😀 The speaker identifies a significant gap in the evaluation of speech and language problems among children diagnosed with EBD.
• 😀 Interprofessional education (IPE) prepares students to work collaboratively across disciplines, enhancing their ability to support children with complex needs.
• 😀 Children with EBD often have reduced opportunities for peer interactions, making social skills training crucial.
• 😀 The role of speech-language pathologists is critical in managing communication disorders among children with EBD.
• 😀 Successful collaboration among professionals can lead to better outcomes, including improved self-regulation and increased opportunities for positive peer interactions.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the speaker's professional background?

The speaker is a speech and language pathologist who specializes in communication disorders, particularly in children with emotional and behavioral disorders.

What challenges does Roberto, the 8-year-old introduced in the talk, face?

Roberto struggles with aggression, attention difficulties, poor social skills, and conflicts in understanding social rules, which are common in children with emotional and behavioral disorders.

How does the speaker describe the relationship between communication disorders and emotional behavioral disorders?

The speaker highlights the complex interplay between these disorders, suggesting that difficulties in communication may contribute to or exacerbate emotional and behavioral issues, and vice versa.

What is the significance of interprofessional collaboration in addressing the needs of children like Roberto?

Interprofessional collaboration enhances the effectiveness of care by ensuring that professionals from various disciplines work together to address the multifaceted needs of children, thereby improving outcomes.

What are some common co-occurring disorders associated with emotional and behavioral disorders?

Common co-occurring disorders include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and language disorders.

What intervention strategies are suggested for helping children with emotional and behavioral disorders?

The speaker suggests using social skills groups to teach children conflict resolution, problem-solving skills, and effective communication, which can help them interact positively with peers.

How does the academic setting play a role in the development of emotional and communication skills?

The academic environment can provide support for emotional development and adjustment by offering interventions and opportunities for social interaction and skill-building.

What are some specific cross-disciplinary goals mentioned for children with emotional and behavioral disorders?

Goals include recognizing and using feeling words, considering others' perspectives, admitting mistakes, and using strategies to avoid conflict.

What outcomes did the speaker observe from the social skills groups?

Participants showed increased opportunities for positive peer interactions, improved self-regulation, and better strategies for managing frustration and anger.

What does the speaker hope to achieve through interprofessional education (IPE)?

The speaker aims to prepare students for collaborative work in various professional settings, emphasizing the importance of understanding and respecting different disciplines for effective teamwork.