During Intensive Interaction Week this week, at Hollybank Trust, our Speech Language Therapy Team (SLT) members have been delivering Intensive Interaction exercises with the people who we support.
Intensive Interaction is an approach for people of any age who struggle with the fundamentals of communication and do not find social interactions easy. Engaging in Intensive Interaction can be beneficial for our adults, children and young people at Hollybank, as it can help them to experience a sense of belonging and to feel more comfortable with being themselves through being seen, supported and valued.
Below is a useful Intensive Interaction technique when working with someone who may be ‘hard to reach’, ‘in their own world’, ‘far away’ and ‘not fully present’. Intensive interaction can be used by staff members, professionals, carers, families and friends.
Observe: Give the person time to do something
Wait: Wait for the individual to do something
Listen: Listen out for the sounds the individual is making, their breathing, rhythms of noise/ movements
Respond to:
How to respond:
Intensive Interaction is a method of communicating with people in a way that they can recognise and respond to.
Having a conversation with somebody in their own, individual language. Being observant, attentive and empathetic to people’s communication styles.
Communicating with people who are labelled ‘hard to reach’ or ‘in their own world.’ Joining in with somebody’s interests and actions. Fun!
– People with Learning Disabilities / PMLD
– People with Autism
– People who use no or minimal speech. And people who speak but struggle with non-verbal social skills
– People with late-stage dementia
– People with multi-sensory impairments (deaf/blind)
It is for people of all ages, particularly those who have limited understanding of language & social skills. Intensive interaction can be used by staff members, professionals, carers, families and friends. Anyone can be a communication partner! It is best to discuss in teams to share ideas/support.
These are some of the skills required for communication to develop.
– Learning to use and understand: eye contact, facial expressions, physical contact, vocalisations
– Giving attention to another person & learning that people can be fun to spend time with! – Learning to take turns, share objects, share space
– Learning to ‘read’ body language and build relationships with communication partners
– The person may become happier and enjoy life more
– To support emotional regulation
– The person may seek out interaction and other people’s company more
– To build trust & relationships
– To reduce frustration & ‘challenging behaviour’
– To have fun
Engaging in Intensive Interaction allows people to practice early communication skills like facial expressions, using and understanding eye contact or taking turns. Because it resembles play more than practice, the learning happens in a safe and fun environment.
Hollybank Trust is a registered Charity: 1043129
VAT Registration Number: 479 750144
