"Voices without barriers - Makaton for all ages"

How It Supports Communication for Everyone

Makaton is a unique communication system that uses speech, signs, symbols to help people understand and express themselves. While many associate Makaton with young children or individuals with additional needs, it’s actually a powerful tool that can support people of all ages — from toddlers learning to talk, to older adults living with conditions that affect communication.

As a Licensed Makaton Tutor, I regularly deliver training to organisations and settings, from Early Years through to Hospitals and more or less everything in between! Having had many years of experience of using Makaton to support people with speech, language and communication across all age groups, I have created this blog to highlight how effective using the Makaton Communication Programme can be across a range of age groups and how it has helped me to support people in my various job roles over the years.

Early Years: Building the Foundations of Communication

For babies and young children, Makaton provides an auditory, visual and physical way to connect words with meaning. Using simple signs and symbols alongside speech helps children understand language before they can speak it. This not only reduces frustration but also encourages confidence and early language development. Whenever I work with particular groups including parents, carers, early years practitioners, and teachers attending, they have often expressed how they have noticed that children who use Makaton become more engaged and better at expressing their needs and feelings.

School Age: Supporting Learning and Inclusion

In school, Makaton continues to play an important role. It can help children with speech, language, or learning difficulties to understand classroom instructions, participate in group activities, and communicate with peers. It is very beneficial for supporting children who are English as an Additional Language learners too. Even for children without communication difficulties, Makaton promotes empathy, inclusion, and awareness of different ways people communicate — creating more understanding and supportive school environments.

As a former lead of a communication and language support classroom within mainstream primary, the benefits to creating a total communication environment were huge.

Adulthood: Enhancing Independence and Connection

For adults, Makaton can be a vital communication aid. It supports individuals with learning disabilities, autism, or speech, language and communication difficulties or language processing difficulties in expressing choices, building relationships, understanding and engaging in community life. Professionals in health and social care settings also use Makaton to improve communication with clients, ensuring people’s voices are heard and respected and informed choices can be made. I deliver training to many community groups and supported living organisations, I often get feedback around people realising what the signs are that the people they support are using, it's an invaluable skill to supporting adult Makaton users, making sure everyone supporting that person is familiar with the use of Makaton, by completing Level 1 you will cover a lot of core vocabulary (stages 1 & 2) that will help you support a Makaton user throughout their day. You can read more about the benefits of attending a Level 1 course HERE

Later Life: Supporting Communication in Older Adults

Makaton can also make a real difference for older adults, particularly those living with dementia, stroke-related communication difficulties, or any other life changes. The visual and gestural nature of Makaton can bridge gaps when speech becomes harder to process or produce, reducing isolation and frustration. Caregivers and family members often find that learning a few key signs can make daily interactions smoother and more meaningful. I have personal experience of supporting someone within our family with Dementia using symbols, symbols are particularly helpful if a person has become non-speaking due to life changes after previously being verbal. Communication boards became invaluable when in hospital for communicating, especially when they were in pain or needed help

A Lifelong Communication Tool

Whether used in early childhood, adulthood, or later life, Makaton offers a shared communication system that empowers people to connect. It’s not just a set of signs and symbols used with speech — it’s a bridge to understanding, inclusion, and independence for people of all ages.

In short: Makaton is very much a communication tool that can grow with you. No matter your age or stage of life, it’s a tool that helps everyone communicate, belong, and be heard.

References and further reading

1. The Makaton Charity. (n.d.). What is Makaton? Retrieved from https://makaton.org

   – Provides official information on Makaton, how it supports communication, and training resources.

2. Department for Education (UK). (2014). Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice: 0 to 25 years.

   – Highlights the importance of inclusive communication strategies in education settings,

3. Alzheimer’s Society. (n.d.). Communication and dementia. https://www.alzheimers.org.uk

4. Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT). (n.d.). Inclusive communication overview | RCSLT

**Disclaimer**

The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and thoughts and information expressed in these blogs are from my own personal thoughts and real life experiences, they do not contain advisory content. While always striving to provide accurate and up-to-date content, there are no guarantees about the completeness or reliability of any information. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk. 

All information on the site is provided in good faith, however, no representation or warranty is made of any kind, expressed or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness of any information on the site.

These blogs are created from my own personal experience and are for general information purposes and are not, in any way, advisory. Where needed I have included research and reference links and further reading articles.

At times I have used AI generated content to reword my own thoughts and may include AI research of  information relevant to the blog and to create images relevant to my blogs, however whenever possible I have used my own images with permission from those featured in the images. My blogs are open to fair use.

Any questions or queries please do get in touch - alimakatontutor@gmail.com