Communication Board: A Tool to Facilitate Clear and Effective Communication

Communication is an essential aspect of human relations. It allows us to share our thoughts, ideas, and emotions with others. However, for people with communication difficulties, expressing themselves can be a challenging task. A communication board is a tool that can help individuals who have difficulty communicating, by providing a visual aid to express their thoughts and ideas. In this article, we will discuss the communication board, its benefits, and how to use it.

What is a Communication Board?

A communication board is a tool that helps individuals with communication difficulties express themselves. It is a board made of material, such as cardboard or plastic, that contains symbols, pictures, or words that represent different ideas, actions, or statements. The communication board can be a physical board or a software application used on a computer or tablet. It can be customized to suit each individual’s needs, including language preferences or skill levels.

The Benefits of a Communication Board

The use of a communication board provides multiple benefits that can enhance an individual’s communication and quality of life. Here are some advantages of using a communication board:

Enhanced communication: A communication board provides an individual with a clear and effective way to express their needs, wants, and ideas.
Improved independence: The use of a communication board increases an individual’s independence by reducing their need for assistance in communication.
Increased participation: A communication board allows an individual to participate in social activities such as conversations, games, and leisure activities.
Reduced frustration: Individuals who experience communication difficulties may become frustrated and discouraged when they cannot express themselves. By using a communication board, these individuals can overcome these challenges and gain confidence in their ability to communicate.

Types of Communication Boards

Communication boards come in different types to suit different communication needs. Here are some of the commonly used types:

Alphabet boards: These types of communication boards have the alphabet displayed in different ways, including grids or tables. An individual can point to specific letters to spell out what they want to say.
Pictorial boards: Pictorial boards have pictures and photographs that represent words, phrases, or actions. An individual can point to the relevant picture to express themselves.
Word boards: Word boards contain frequently used words, phrases, or sentences. An individual can point to the relevant word to express themselves.
Folders: Folders contain images, symbols, or words that are arranged in different categories. An individual can flip through the folder to find the relevant image or word they want to express.

How to Use a Communication Board

Using a communication board requires some basic steps that can vary depending on the type of board being used. Here are the general steps to follow:

Choose the appropriate board: The first step is to choose the board that suits the individual’s communication needs. This requires assessing the individual’s communication skills, preferred language, and communication goals.
Introduce the board: Introduce the board by explaining what it is, how it works, and how it can help the individual communicate effectively.
Modeling: Modeling is a process of demonstrating how to use the board by pointing to images, symbols, or words while speaking out the relevant words. This helps the individual to understand how to use the board and how it relates to spoken language.
Practice: Practicing using the board is essential for the individual to gain confidence and fluency in communication. This requires identifying situations in which the board can be used, such as during conversations, games, or leisure activities.
Cleaning and maintenance: Regular cleaning and maintenance of the board are essential for its durability and functionality. This requires following the manufacturer’s instructions on how to clean the board and how to store it when not in use.

Conclusion

The use of a communication board is a simple and effective way to facilitate clear and effective communication for individuals with communication difficulties. It provides them with the means to express their thoughts, ideas, and emotions, thereby enhancing their communication and quality of life. By choosing the appropriate board, introducing it properly, modeling its use, practicing, and maintaining it, individuals can gain confidence, independence, and inclusion in social activities.

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References

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2. Soltani, M., & Abbasi, A. (2021). Improving recommender systems through user behavior analysis in the context of personalized e-learning. Interactive Learning Environments, 29(2), 255-277. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1080/10494820.2019.1639028

3. Zhang, W., Sun, A., & Zhu, X. (2020). Personalized job recommendation based on user behaviors in social networks. International Journal of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, 30(3), 501-514. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.34768/amcs-2020-0037