Parents and children with cerebral palsy discuss communication needs in hospital

Objective: The aim of this study was to understand the communication needs and experiences of parents and children with cerebral palsy (CP) and complex communication needs (CCN) in hospital. Methods: Focus groups with 10 parents and interviews with seven children with CP and CCN were analysed for content themes. Results: Results demonstrated that children often want to communicate directly with hospital staff to: gain attention, answer yes/no, convey basic physical needs, give and receive information, control their environment and participate in preferred activities. Barriers to communication included lack of access to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), staff preferring to communicate with parents and lack of time to communicate. Conclusions: Results highlight strategies for successful communication, the role of the parents in supporting communication and provision of AAC systems for children in hospital. Policy and practice implications in the preparation of children with CP and CCN for communication in hospital are discussed.