Clinical Use and New Developments

Sally BoaResearch Speech and Language Therapist

University of Stirling Forth Valley NHS

Talking Matsvisual scale

topic options

Talking Mats

Developed in 1998

University of Stirling

Used both in applied and research contexts

Used locally, nationally and internationally

Prerequisites

Physical vision pointing method

Cognitive Symbolic understanding Understand 2 key words in 1 sentence reliable confirmation

Examples of Client Groups

Children with language disorders - expressing their viewsPeople with intellectual disability - life planning Frail older people Adults with acquired communication disability - goal planningYoung offenders - communication difficultiesMaking decisions about non-oral eating and drinking

Adults with acquired communication disability

Goal setting

World Health Organisation (2001) ICF: International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, Geneva: WHO

Goal Setting

WHO domains (Activities & Participation)

Learning & applying Knowledge General tasks and demandsCommunicationMobilitySelf-careDomestic lifeInterpersonal interactions and relationshipsMajor life areas (e.g. work, education)Community, social and civic life

Talking Mats -Topics

Applying knowledge Emotional well being Communication Mobility /Transport Self care Domestic life Relationships Work and education Leisure Environment Health

Sub categories

Washing Having a bath Showering Getting dressed Fastenings Washing hair Eating Drinking Cutting up food

Goal setting - general topics

Sub mat - Communication

Tracking changes

Quotes

“So this kind of explains what the rehab team do and what rehabilitation is practically. I didn’t know, for example, that it [the service] was so wide. I didn’t know that A would be taking me out, for example, and getting me used to the train the shops and people………”

“I suppose it is like anything that you are asked to write or any question you asked is like a blank sheet of paper and for me with speech difficulties it is easier to work with ideas than come up with your own.”

Non-oral eating and drinking

Meetings

Why Talking Mats works

Structured format to interaction Open questions Avoids direct confrontation Time

Small chunks helps people process concepts reduces memory demands

Multiple channelsOwnership Gives people control

Reduces physical demandsHelps people to say “no”

New developments

Training - general or targeted

Talking Mats manual

Symbol sets

Further research

www.talkingmats.com

References

Murphy J (2004) Enabling Frail Older People with a Communication Difficulty to Express their Views: the use of Talking Mats™ as an interview tool Health and Social Care in the Community 13 (2) 95-107 Cameron L, Watson J and Murphy (2004) Talking Mats: A focus group tool for people with learning disability. Communication Matters 18 (1) 33-35Boa S and MacFadyen L (2003) Goal Setting for People with Communication Difficulites. Communication Matters 17 (3) 31-33Boa, S and Murphy, J (2003) Talking Mats™- An overview of current developments. Communicating with pictures and symbols - Augmentative Communication in Practice Study Day 2003 43-45Murphy, J , McCallan S and Aitken J (2003) Helping People make decisions about PEG Feeding Bulletin of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists No. 618Cameron, L and Murphy, J (2002) Enabling young people with a learning disability to make choices at a time of transition, British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 30:105-112.World Health Organisation (2001) ICF: International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, Geneva: WHO