Using Intensive Interaction with people with language in residential settings: Some Simple Dos!

Following on from last week's blog about the 'Simple dos' when using Intensive Interaction with people with language in educational settings (04/06/18) developed by those attending our most recent Intensive Interaction Weekend Workshop, here are some 'simple dos' that can be used to inform practitioners when using Intensive Interaction with people with language in residential settings:     

                 

·    Do join in with the person’s interests, actions and vocalisations as a vehicle for an Intensive Interaction engagement – including the use of repetitive words, and see any spoken language as an additional element of the Intensive Interaction, but not the main focus or aim of the Intensive Interaction.

·    Do sociably ‘join in with’ the person’s language – as opposed to just reflecting it back!

·    Do playfully explore the language; the sounds, the emotions, the interaction, the feel, the vibration, the mouth movement and the meaning – but don’t focus on the literal meaning of the language, or on expanding on the literal meaning of the language.

·    Be aware that the words might not have the same meaning for the listener as they do for the speaker - the subjective meaning of words is not always as obvious as the meaning behind some behaviours … but sometimes do offer an extension when the word apparently has clear meaning …

·    Do use your knowledge of the person to know how much language to use (possibly using language only minimally) … and do provide sufficient processing time for the person to fully participate (again by possibly using language only minimally!).

·    Do closely observe the person for feedback as to whether ‘joining in’ the conversation by saying the person’s words back to them would be okay (i.e. not be interpreted by the person as in some way demeaning). We might say back some key words (from a longer utterance) as we  take a turn – but not the whole utterance.

·    Do make the language one of the fundamentals of the communication (e.g. the same as with an object) and follow Melanie Nind’s 5 key elements of Intensive Interaction (from her seminal 1996 paper 'Efficacy of Intensive Interaction' -  more about these in an upcoming Blog!).

·    Do consider the person’s sensory needs and their arousal levels or levels of anxiety … so consider the need to possibly offer a stimulating or calming type activity at the start or end of a session, or consider the inclusion of a sensory item to facilitate a calm, alert state of arousal.

·    Do get Intensive Interaction into communication passports, funding reports, care plans, etc. and do discuss the benefits of Intensive Interaction with management, CQC, etc.

·    Do keep it simple, and do follow your interactive instincts!

So thank you again to all our II Weekenders yet again for all their insightful efforts!

p.s. - you can now 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'follow' button on the top left - somehow Sheridan got there before I even put it up - why not join her and click on 'follow'!