What is Makaton in Health and Social Care?

Makaton is a language programme that combines signs, symbols, and speech to aid communication. It is widely used in health and social care settings across the UK to support individuals who have difficulty with spoken language. Makaton is designed to help people express themselves more effectively. It can be particularly beneficial for individuals with learning disabilities, autism, Down’s syndrome, or other communication challenges.

Makaton empowers those with communication difficulties to participate in conversations, express their needs, and understand information from others. Health and social care professionals use Makaton to improve interactions and ensure individuals feel heard, respected, and included.

How Makaton Works

Makaton uses three key elements:

1. Signs – These are gestures used alongside spoken words. Many Makaton signs are adapted from British Sign Language (BSL).
2. Symbols – Simple, visual images represent vocabulary. They act as visual prompts to help someone understand and remember words or concepts.
3. Speech – Spoken language is essential in Makaton. The signs and symbols are used alongside speech to support communication.

By combining these elements, Makaton provides a multimodal way of communicating. This means that people can rely on signs, symbols, or speech depending on their individual abilities and preferences.

Why Is Makaton Used?

Makaton is an important tool for improving communication in health and social care. Many people who rely on support services may find verbal communication challenging. This can make it hard for them to express their needs, feelings, or choices. Makaton bridges this gap and helps ensure that these individuals can communicate effectively.

In a health and social care setting, Makaton can be used for:

• Day-to-Day Communication – Supporting people to talk about their needs, emotions, and preferences.
• Teaching – Helping people understand new concepts or learn useful words and phrases.
• Medical Care – Explaining procedures, treatments, or medication in a way that the person understands.
• Safety – Giving individuals the tools to alert someone if they feel unwell or unsafe.
• Social Interaction – Encouraging people to take part in conversations with carers, family members, or peers.

Makaton promotes inclusion and independence. It reduces frustration for people who struggle with verbal communication, providing them with alternative ways to engage with others.

Who Can Benefit from Makaton?

Makaton is commonly used with individuals who have disabilities, communication disorders, or developmental delays. Specific groups that benefit include:

• People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
• Individuals with Down’s syndrome
• Children with speech and language delays
• Adults with learning disabilities
• Stroke survivors who experience speech loss
• Older adults with dementia
• Children in early years education settings

Carers, support staff, and healthcare professionals may also use Makaton to improve communication when working with these groups.

How Makaton Is Taught

Makaton is taught through structured training programmes. This training allows professionals, carers, teachers, and family members to use Makaton effectively. There are different levels of training available, ranging from introductory courses to advanced workshops.

Some of the ways people learn Makaton include:

• Attending training sessions run by accredited tutors
• Using Makaton books and visual resources
• Practising signs and symbols with individuals and groups
• Incorporating Makaton into everyday interactions

Repetition and practice are key when teaching Makaton. Learners must use signs, symbols, and speech consistently to help the person recognise and remember them.

How Makaton Is Used in Health and Social Care

Health and social care practitioners often use Makaton in their daily work. Its flexibility makes it suitable for various situations, such as:

Care Planning

When creating care plans, professionals can use Makaton to involve the individual. This ensures the person can share their preferences and understand their care options.

Communication with Non-Verbal Individuals

Carers use signs and symbols to communicate with individuals who are unable to speak. For example, they might use a “drink” sign to ask if someone is thirsty.

Explaining Medical Procedures

Doctors or nurses may use Makaton to help a patient understand what will happen during a medical appointment or procedure. Symbols can be especially helpful for conveying key information visually.

Supporting Emotional Wellbeing

People with communication challenges might struggle to express their emotions. Makaton provides a way for them to share how they feel. For instance, symbols for “happy” or “sad” can help someone communicate their mood.

Encouraging Participation

Makaton helps individuals take part in activities, make choices, and form relationships. Using Makaton in a social setting supports inclusion and builds confidence.

What are the Benefits of Makaton?

Makaton offers many benefits for individuals and professionals in health and social care:

• Improved Understanding – Makaton makes it easier for people with communication difficulties to understand information.
• Reduced Frustration – It provides an outlet for people to express themselves, reducing stress and frustration.
• Empowered Decision Making – Individuals can use Makaton to make choices and communicate their preferences.
• Strengthened Relationships – Using Makaton fosters better relationships between carers and the people they support.
• Greater Independence – Makaton helps people manage their daily lives with more independence.

Potential Barriers of Using Makaton

Although Makaton is a useful tool, there can be challenges when introducing it in health and social care settings.

• Learning Process – Some carers and professionals may need time to learn Makaton themselves before teaching it to others.
• Consistency – Using Makaton effectively requires consistency. If different carers use different signs or symbols, this might confuse the person.
• Individual Preferences – Not all individuals respond to Makaton in the same way. Some may prefer signs, others may rely more heavily on symbols or speech.
• Resource Availability – Accessing Makaton resources, such as training and books, might be difficult in certain areas.

Despite these challenges, the benefits of Makaton outweigh the effort. Carers and professionals often find that it significantly improves communication and quality of care.

Examples of Common Makaton Signs and Symbols

Makaton includes vocabulary that is relevant to everyday life. Some commonly used signs and symbols are:

• Eat – A sign showing the action of bringing food to the mouth.
• Drink – A sign depicting the motion of drinking from a cup.
• Help – A sign using a hand gesture to indicate assistance.
• Toilet – A sign showing the action associated with using the bathroom.
• Happy – A smiling face symbol represents happiness.
• Sad – A frowning face symbol helps convey sadness.
• Stop – A hand gesture and symbol are used to indicate stopping or halting.

These signs and symbols help people communicate their needs in a straightforward way.

What are the Legal and Ethical Considerations?

Health and social care professionals must follow certain laws and ethical guidelines when using Makaton. For example:

• Equality Act 2010 – This law protects individuals from discrimination. Using Makaton ensures communication support is provided fairly.
• Human Rights Act 1998 – Everyone has the right to freedom of expression and to be understood. Providing Makaton supports this right.
• Mental Capacity Act 2005 – Professionals must listen to a person’s preferences whenever possible. Makaton helps individuals communicate their choices.

Professionals must also respect privacy and dignity when using Makaton.

Getting Started with Makaton

For those interested in using Makaton, there are several ways to get started:

• Find training courses provided by certified Makaton tutors.
• Use free resources available on the official Makaton website.
• Practise with someone who uses Makaton.
• Start small, with signs and symbols for basic needs.

Using Makaton in health and social care takes commitment, but the rewards are worth it. Improving communication often leads to stronger relationships and better care.

Final Thoughts

Makaton plays an important role in health and social care by breaking down barriers to communication. It provides a way for individuals with communication difficulties to express themselves, understand others, and participate in their community. Care professionals, carers, and family members can use Makaton to enhance interactions and support independence.