Oral expression is a person’s ability to express ideas when speaking so that others will understand the message.
People who have difficulty with oral expression often understand what is said to them or written in passages, but may have difficulty communicating a response. They may also have difficulty with language processing and the connection between words and their ideas or with pronunciation of words.
Difficulties with oral expression, also known as expressive language disorder, are often seen in individuals with Downs Syndrome, Autism spectrum disorders and those who are hard of hearing. Expressive language disorders can also be acquired as a result of brain damage.
The symptoms that someone with oral expression difficulties might experience include:
- difficulty finding the right word
- limited or basic vocabulary
- confusing meanings in a sentence
- problems relaying information
- inability to start or hold a conversation
- making grammatical mistakes
- using short simple sentences
- inability to 'get to the point.
Workplace solutions and adjustments
Oral expression plays an important part in the workplace. Employees need to be able to express their wishes and ideas and communicate effectively with their colleagues in order to ensure a productive and safe working environment.
A number of supports can be implemented to assist people with oral expression difficulties:
- allow larger gaps in a conversation when waiting for a response
- use signs and gestures
- use pictures, real objects, or printed words to relay messages
- use books or communication boards to relay messages
- computers and computer software can assist people to explain their ideas and express themselves more clearly
- graphic organisers allow people to communicate through a series of pictures as prompts which can be combined with speech to explain ideas
- a communication specialist can provide strategies to help improve oral expression
Funding may be available through the Employment Assistance Fund to assist someone with a disability to access one or more of the solutions suggested above. See the link below for more information about eligibility for funding:
References
Better Health Channel 2008, Expressive Language Disorder, State Government of Victoria, Melbourne, viewed 21 May 2010,
<http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Expressive_language_disorder>.
Logsdon, A. 2010, Expressive Language Disorder: Learning Disabilities in Expressive Language, About.com Guide, New York, viewed 21 May 2010, <http://learningdisabilities.about.com/od/learningdisabilitybasics/p/exprslangdisrdr.htm>.
Morales, S. 2006, Expressive Language Disorder, Children’s Speech Care Centre, California, viewed 21 May 2010, http://www.childspeech.net/u_iv_h.html