TRAUMA
TRAUMA INFORMED CARE
WHAT IS TRAUMA
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“Trauma is a psychic wound that hardens you psychologically and then interferes with your ability to grow and develop. It pains you and now you’re acting out of pain. It induces fear and now you’re acting out of fear. Trauma is not what happens to you, it’s what happens inside you as a result of what happened to you. Trauma is that scarring that makes you less flexible, more rigid, less feeling and more defended” (Gabor Maté).
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"Overwhelming event or events that render a child helpless, powerless, creating a threat of harm and/or loss."
Children’s Trauma Assessment Center - WMU
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Any “physical, psychological or emotional trauma, such as extreme violence, abuse or a near-death experience that produces a response of intense fear, helplessness or horror lasting more than a few weeks." (Dr. Martin, N, 2020)
STATISTICS:
According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network 1 in every 4 school aged children have been exposed to a traumatic event that can impact their learning, behavior, or both.
The Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) student identified 10 types of childhood traumas that cause contribute to diseases, mental illnesses, and violence in adults.
https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(98)00017-8/fulltext
CAUSES OF TRAUMA:
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Physical or emotional abuse
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Sexual abuse
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Neglect
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Death or loss
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Experiencing or witnessing domestic abuse
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Accidents – automobile or other life-threatening incidents
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Medical procedures
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Community violence – experiencing or witnessing events
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Witnessing policing events/incarcerated relatives
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Natural disasters that are life-threatening
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Terrorism
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Living in turbulent environments – inconsistent housing and finances
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Adapted from The National Child Traumatic Stress Network.
TYPES OF TRAUMA:
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Shock trauma (e,g. PTSD) resulting from a single event
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Developmental trauma – events that negatively impact a child’s nervous system
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Transgenerational trauma – trauma that is passed down through generations
Adapted from The Wisdom of Trauma.
55ed10_4b0bd3c740dc4572961ef1b9ead1d8df.pdf (filesusr.com)
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PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, & LEARNING SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN
PHYSICAL & EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS:
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Headaches & stomachaches
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Emotional dysregulation
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Inconsistencies in academic performance
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Impulsivity
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Over or under-reaction to sounds or physical movements
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Reminders of trauma leads to intense responses: fighting, difficulty with transition, over-reacting to correction, misinterpreting violation of personal space
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LEARNING:
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Difficulty with attention, memory, cognition
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Difficulty with focusing, organizing and processing information
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Impacts problem solving and/or planning
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Intense feelings of frustration and anxiety
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OTHER GENERAL SYMPTOMS:
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Feeling helpless and immobile
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Disassociation/Denial
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Hyperactive
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Nightmares/night terrors
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Sudden mood changes
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Difficulty managing stress
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Poor sleep
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Avoidance behaviors
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Reckless behaviors
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Forgetfulness
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Difficulty bonding with others
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Self-mutilation
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Fear of death
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Difficulty making commitments
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Fatigue
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Depression
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Psychosomatic illnesses – pain, headaches, digestive issues
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Problems with immune system
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Adapted from The Wisdom of Trauma 55ed10_4b0bd3c740dc4572961ef1b9ead1d8df.pdf (filesusr.com)
SPEECH & LANGUAGE THERAPY ASSESSMENT:
Assessments incorporate “developmental, medical, neurological, relational, communicative, and social information.” (Yemuda, 2016). It is an ongoing process that examines past and present stressors:
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Prenatal stressors – physical or emotional problems during pregnancy
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Postnatal and infancy stressors – e.g. NICU, reflux, attachment issues, caregiver issues
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Medical history
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Developmental milestones – e.g. motor development, feeding, sleep
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Family history – illness, domestic violence, caregiver illnesses
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Environmental stressors – e.g. job loss, unsafe living conditions, natural disasters
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Additional stressors – e.g. grief, poverty, homelessness
(Adapted from - Communicating Trauma by Na’ama Yehuda, 2016)
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SPEECH THERAPY TREATMENT TRAUMA PERSPECTIVE:
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Treatment takes into account the effect of trauma on language and pragmatics
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Addressing the communication needs that are impacted by trauma
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Use of culturally and linguistically practices
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Recognizing the signs of trauma and adjusting treatment accordingly
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Combining trauma-informed practices with appropriate treatment procedures and policies
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Creating a safe environment where trust is established and clients feel cared for
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Collaborating with all stakeholders to meet the needs of clients​
Infographic: 6 Guiding principles to a trauma-informed approach. https://www.cdc.gov/orr/infographics/6_principles_trauma_info.htm
TRAUMA INFORMED CARE IN SPEECH THERAPY
Our practice provides culturally appropriate care for individuals who have experienced trauma. We understand the implications of trauma and how it can impact communication.
HEALING HEART WOUNDS
This group provides participants with a safe place where they can learn to talk about the heart wounds they have experienced in the past and gain the support to come to a place of healing. To learn more please contact us via the Contact Us form.
THE WISDOM OF TRAUMA- Booklet
THE NATIONAL CHILD TRAUMATIC STRESS NETWORK- Learn More
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TRAUMA / ABUSE - DIANE LANGBERG, PHD. - Learn More