THE CLOAK OF COMPETENCE: UNDERSTANDING HIDDEN COMMUNICATION BARRIERS
Hidden communication barriers are not apparent straight away. They could include aphasia as a result of a stroke, a traumatic brain injury, complex trauma, mental health concerns, or an intellectual disability.
The Cloak of Competence is a term coined by anthropologist Robert Edgarton and refers to coping strategies or behaviours that some people with intellectual disability (specifically) have learned in order to mask their disability.
Some complex communication needs are easy to spot while others are more difficult
If you suspect the person you are speaking with has a complex communication need, and they don’t share it openly, the following questions may help to develop an understanding:
• Where did you go to school? • How are you with reading and writing? • What do you do during the day? Do you go to work?
• Where do you live? Do you live with other people?
• Do you get a pension from Centrelink?
Many people with hidden communication barriers often have poor literacy skills. They may sign documents as true and accurate accounts without fully understanding what they are signing. To ensure understanding:
• provide the written material in plain English or Easy English
Spotting a communication disability
The person may: • respond to questions inappropriately or with inconsistent answers, or say “Yes” or nod quickly and without much consideration
• experience difficulty in understanding questions
• show difficulty with abstract thinking and reasoning
• have a restricted vocabulary • be easily distracted • experience memory difficulties.
• explain the written material to the person and check their understanding by asking the person to paraphrase or summarise what was said in their own words.
9
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39
