Counseling Families of Children with Communication Disorders

Abstract

When a child is diagnosed with a communication disorder, family members often are confused and in shock. They are not prepared for the challenges associated with a long-term communication disorder, and family-focused resources are not readily accessible. The sense of loss related to the diagnosis may provoke a grief reaction, which, if not resolved, could lead to depression and other problems for the family and the child. The authors explore two types of grief: stage and episodic. They also discuss the importance of the role of the speech—language pathologist in recognizing and understanding the family's grief and facilitating positive strategies for dealing with it.