Talking Mats is an evidence-based communication tool for supporting an individual to express their opinions and feelings, and make informed decisions. Developed by researcher Joan Murphy in 1998, Talking Mats uses a simple yet effective design to help a person with communication difficulties get their message across, reducing any confusion or ambiguity!
Today, we’re going to dive deep into what Talking Mats is, when to use it, who would benefit from it, and where to find training!
What is Talking Mats?
A Talking Mat is a communication tool which supports people to communicate about a specific topic. There are two options for using Talking Mats; the physical resource, which is kind of like a car mat with picture cards, or the new Talking Mats app. Both are effective, and it’s up to the person, the therapist, and what is available, to determine which format you use!
So, how does Talking Mats work?
First, a topic is chosen and placed down the bottom of the mat. Topics could include school, activities, books, goal-setting for therapy, anything! This ensures everyone is on the same page.
Next, the conversation partner explains what the visual scale at the top of the mat means. Depending on the topic, it could be ‘good’, ‘bad’, and ‘neutral’; ‘want’, ‘don’t want’, or ‘not sure’; or anything that fits with the topic.
Then, the person is given one picture card at a time and asked to place it on the mat depending on how they feel about it, using the visual scale to express their thoughts and preferences. For example, if talking about school, a person could present a participant with symbols related to their different subjects, and ask them to place them on the mat to show if they like, don’t like, or are indifferent about the subject.
How can Talking Mats improve communication?
Talking Mats have been extensively researched and proven to be an effective communication tool. It’s important to note here that while Talking Mats supports a person to express feelings and opinions, they should not be used as a stand-alone communication tool!
You could use Talking Mats to support people with communication difficulties to share preferences and opinions about food, activities, care plans, likes or dislikes, people, and more!
Anyone can learn to use Talking Mats with their clients or loved ones. Completing Talking Mats training allows you to feel confident to support a person to accurately convey their thoughts, feelings, and opinions, address any issues that arise, reflect on your own communication, and learn the evidence around this communication tool.
Who benefits from using Talking Mats?
Some participants you might consider using Talking Mats with include those who have;
- Dementia
- Intellectual Disability
- Aphasia
- Autism
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Complex Communication Needs
- Any child or adult who has communication difficulties!
The simple layout of Talking Mats and use of picture cards helps to support a person’s understanding and expression.
If you couldn’t tell from this blog post… we love using Talking Mats! It is an excellent, evidence-based tool for empowering participants to express themselves and make informed choices. You can discuss Talking Mats with your speech pathologist to determine whether it’s the right approach for you.
