Research fellow and speech and language therapist Dr Poppy Nash of the University of York and Jackie Stengelhofen, a specialist speech and language therapist based in Birmingham, have developed an intervention programme to help prevent children with speech problems acquiring a poor self-image and low self-esteem which can make them prime targets for bullying and social exclusion. The researchers, addressing the British Psychological Society conference, said a sense of personal inadequacy can deeply affect a person's motivation to learn and to socialise with others and may lead to mental illness such as depression.
The intervention programme aims to boost self-esteem and equip children with long-term communication difficulties with effective coping strategies. It also helps children realise that communication difficulties need not block their learning in other areas. It has proved successful with children aged eight to 15 and is to be piloted with children aged five to seven.
