TRAUMA

TRAUMA INFORMED CARE

WHAT IS TRAUMA

“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).

"Overwhelming event or events that render a child helpless, powerless, creating a threat of harm and/or loss."
Children’s Trauma Assessment Center - WMU

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

Trauma Informed Care

CAUSES OF TRAUMA:

Physical or emotional abuse
Sexual abuse
Neglect
Death or loss
Experiencing or witnessing domestic abuse
Accidents – automobile or other life-threatening incidents
Medical procedures
Community violence – experiencing or witnessing events

Witnessing policing events/incarcerated relatives
Natural disasters that are life-threatening
Terrorism
Living in turbulent environments – inconsistent housing and finances

Adapted from The National Child Traumatic Stress Network.

NCTSN Learning Center for Child and Adolescent Trauma

TYPES OF TRAUMA:

Shock trauma (e,g. PTSD) resulting from a single event
Developmental trauma – events that negatively impact a child’s nervous system
Transgenerational trauma – trauma that is passed down through generations

Adapted from The Wisdom of Trauma.

55ed10_4b0bd3c740dc4572961ef1b9ead1d8df.pdf (filesusr.com)

PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, & LEARNING SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN

PHYSICAL & EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS:

Headaches & stomachaches
Emotional dysregulation
Inconsistencies in academic performance
Impulsivity
Over or under-reaction to sounds or physical movements
Reminders of trauma leads to intense responses: fighting, difficulty with transition, over-reacting to correction, misinterpreting violation of personal space

LEARNING:

Difficulty with attention, memory, cognition
Difficulty with focusing, organizing and processing information
Impacts problem solving and/or planning
Intense feelings of frustration and anxiety

OTHER GENERAL SYMPTOMS:

Feeling helpless and immobile
Disassociation/Denial
Hyperactive
Nightmares/night terrors

Sudden mood changes
Difficulty managing stress
Poor sleep
Avoidance behaviors
Reckless behaviors
Forgetfulness

Difficulty bonding with others
Self-mutilation
Fear of death
Difficulty making commitments
Fatigue

Depression
Psychosomatic illnesses – pain, headaches, digestive issues
Problems with immune system

Adapted from The Wisdom of Trauma 55ed10_4b0bd3c740dc4572961ef1b9ead1d8df.pdf (filesusr.com)

Phy Emo

Speech Assessment

Speech Treatment

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:

Prenatal stressors – physical or emotional problems during pregnancy
Postnatal and infancy stressors – e.g. NICU, reflux, attachment issues, caregiver issues
Medical history
Developmental milestones – e.g. motor development, feeding, sleep
Family history – illness, domestic violence, caregiver illnesses
Environmental stressors – e.g. job loss, unsafe living conditions, natural disasters
Additional stressors – e.g. grief, poverty, homelessness

(Adapted from - Communicating Trauma by Na’ama Yehuda, 2016)

SPEECH THERAPY TREATMENT TRAUMA PERSPECTIVE:

Treatment takes into account the effect of trauma on language and pragmatics
Addressing the communication needs that are impacted by trauma
Use of culturally and linguistically practices
Recognizing the signs of trauma and adjusting treatment accordingly
Combining trauma-informed practices with appropriate treatment procedures and policies
Creating a safe environment where trust is established and clients feel cared for
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

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

TRAUMA / ABUSE - DIANE LANGBERG, PHD. - Learn More