Impacts of Communication

Impacts of disability

Hidden impacts

Some impacts of communication difficulties are obvious. When a person can't ask for what they want, the impact is plain to see.

Communication difficulties can have less obvious or 'hidden' impacts as well. They can impact a person’s mental health and lead to loneliness. They can make people more vulnerable to abuse, discrimination and exploitation. Sometimes, they lead to people having contact with the justice system.

It is important to investigate if communication difficulties are hidden behind these types of problems.

Read about the many ways to support people with communication difficulties to reduce these hidden impacts.

Mental health conditions and loneliness

Communication difficulties can lead to social isolation. Social isolation can damage a person’s confidence and limit opportunities for conversation and interaction. This can lead to loneliness, depression, anxiety and fear.

People with communication difficulties are more likely to have mental health conditions and illnesses. According to Speech Pathology Australia, over 60% of adults in mental health services have communication difficulties.

Vulnerability and discrimination

Communication is key to standing up for yourself and being safe.

People with communication difficulties may be more vulnerable to abuse, assault and neglect. However, they are often less able to report incidents.

They may also often experience discrimination. Discrimination is against the law.

Ensuring each person has an independent way to communicate provides protection against abuse, exploitation and discrimination.

Lisa

Communication advocate and AAC user

‘People with communication needs are at more of a disadvantage in society than most others, because it makes us much more vulnerable that we can't tell someone - if we were abused - or even happy news. We can't share any feelings or beliefs without communication.’

Contact with the justice system

People with communication difficulties are over-represented in the justice system, both as offenders and victims.

Research has found many people in custody have significant communication difficulties that may not have been recognised previously. Similarly, communication difficulties can mean a person is more vulnerable to becoming a victim of crime. Read more.

Communication difficulties can be part of other conditions which are commonly experienced by people in justice settings, such as mental health conditions, intellectual disability, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, acquired brain injury, hearing loss, or a history of trauma, abuse or neglect.

Professor Pamela Snow

Speech pathologist, registered psychologist and researcher

'Research in Victoria and New South Wales youth justice systems (both custodial and community-based settings) shows that around 50% of male youth offenders have a previously unidentified language disorder. There is evidence that this percentage increases when other risk factors are present. There also appears to be a link between language difficulties and severity of offending.' (Source article, 2018) 

 

Learn more

Speech Pathology and Mental Health infographic from Speech Pathology Australia; Original source: Walsh, I., Regan, J., Sowman, R., Parsons, B. and McKay, A.P., 2007. A needs analysis for the provision of a speech and language therapy service to adults with mental health disorders. Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 24(3), pp.89-93.

Communication: Unlocking the potential of young people in custody  Video from Speech Pathology Australia.

Snow, P.C. (2019). Speech-Language Pathology and the Youth Offender: Epidemiological Overview and Roadmap for Future Speech-Language Pathology Research and Scope of Practice. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools. Article 23, April 2019.  https://doi.org/10.1044/2018_LSHSS-CCJS-18-0027