Complete loss of speech is a serious barrier that prevents individuals from communicating with others properly. In case I would have to suffer from a complete loss of speech, my life would be changed significantly. I would not be able to engage in simple interactions with my friends, teachers, and family, meaning it would be extremely hard to explain my emotions, achievements, challenges, and concerns to them.
Therefore, complete loss of speech would make it harder to remain as a normal student and school and take part in sports and other entertaining activities. Due to the fact that I would need additional time to communicate my ideas and questions, I would need to be homeschooled. I would still be able to participate in sports but would require constant communication assistance from trainers and parents.
The type of intervention appropriate for the loss of speech depends on the cause of this illness and the age of individuals. In the case of a young person, complete loss of speech can be brought by severe stress or problems with hearing (Stöppler, n.d.). Consequently, to overcome the barrier, it would primarily be effective to manage the main cause of the problem. This would mean overcoming stress or treating the hearing problem.
While managing the root of the issue, it is important to give individuals constant communication support. A person suffering from complete loss of speech should not be embarrassed or afraid of the issue and feel that there are always people who are ready to help him/her. As mentioned earlier, this strategy can help to continue engaging in various activities, such as sports and hobbies.
The level of independence with complete loss of speech can decrease in a significant way. Because individuals with this problem are not able to participate in a conversation by expressing their ideas and asking questions, they are dependent on others who can communicate instead of them. Thus, independence in case of complete loss of hearing is almost absent.
I cannot say that there is a huge difference in the level of independence of an elderly person and a young individual who has a complete loss of speech problem. However, because children and teenagers are generally more active, the influence of the issue on them is less noticeable. In addition, they have a higher probability of recovering and overcoming the barrier.
After completing this assignment, I definitely learned more about complete loss of speech, its causes, effects, and possible interventions. In addition, the differences between children and elderly people who are suffering from the issue are now more evident than before. It can generally be stated that I became more aware of this communication barrier.
I would not say that my perception changed significantly; however, one thing that I understood is that people with complete loss of speech can lead a normal life. Before completing the assignment, I thought that it is impossible for these individuals to be normal agents of society. As it appeared, they can learn to manage the issue by accepting it and receiving support from others.
In case I would have a client with this communication barrier, I would definitely try to be as understanding and supportive as possible. The knowledge that I received while writing the assignment, would motivate me not to manage the problem itself first but rather try to find its cause. Dealing with the root of the issue would help to overcome the barriers quicker and easier.
Reference
Stöppler, M. C. (n.d.). Loss of speech: Symptoms and signs. Web.