Communication Reliability & Vulnerability Analysis (Forensic SLP Services)

Objective, evidence-based analysis of statements, interviews, testimony & vulnerability
Serving AZ • CA • CO • FL • NM • PA • WA • VA via secure telepractice

Decision-Making Communication • Guardianship • Cognitive-Linguistic Capacity Assessment

🧠 What Is a Communication Reliability & Vulnerability Analysis?

This evaluation determines whether an individual’s cognitive, linguistic, or communication limitations impacted the accuracy, clarity, or reliability of:

Police interviews
Recorded statements
Written statements
Interrogations
Depositions
Witness testimony
Child or adult disclosures
Confessions
Interviews with minors or vulnerable adults

It also examines whether the person is communication-vulnerable, meaning they are more likely to:

Misunderstand questions
Provide incomplete or inaccurate responses
Agree to leading questions
Change answers under pressure
Struggle to express refusal or discomfort
Misinterpret language or intent
Be influenced by authority figures

Why Attorneys Request This Evaluation

Attorneys use this analysis when:

A statement seems inconsistent or poorly structured
There is concern the individual did not understand interview questions
A client has TBI, developmental disabilities, trauma history, aphasia, or language impairment
Police reports do not match communication ability
A confession may have been influenced by misunderstanding
A witness shows limited comprehension
A vulnerable adult signed a document they didn't understand
A child’s statement may be influenced by phrasing or pressure

Components of the Evaluation

1. Linguistic Analysis of Statements

Examines:

Sentence structure
Word choice
Narrative organization
Coherence
Gaps or inconsistencies explained by cognitive difficulty
Ability to describe events chronologically
Signs of confusion, coercion, or fatigue

2. Suggestibility & Vulnerability Indicators

Assesses:

Acquiescence (“yes” tendency)
Compliance with authority
Difficulty expressing disagreement
Fear-based communication patterns
Difficulty recognizing leading questions
Social-pragmatic deficits
Pressure responses (freeze, shutdown, confusion)

3. Cognitive-Communication Skills

Includes testing and/or behavioral analysis of:

Memory
Processing speed
Language comprehension
Executive function
Problem solving
Mental flexibility
Attention
Fatigue effects

4. Interview Technique Review

Analyzes:

If questions were age-appropriate
Whether the language level matched the individual’s ability
Use of leading or complex questions
Speech rate and pressure
Miscommunications
Signs of intimidation, fear, or overload

5. Video/Audio Review (If Provided)

Identifies:

Body language indicating confusion
Delayed processing
Long latencies
Reliance on yes/no answers
Breakdown of communication under pressure
Moments where comprehension clearly failed

⭐ Who This Evaluation Is For

Defense attorneys
Prosecutors
Family/Dependency court attorneys
Immigration/asylum attorneys
Civil litigation teams
Forensic psychologists seeking collateral analysis
Public defenders
Child advocates
Elder law attorneys

Famous Legal Cases That May Have Been Impacted by Communication Disorders — And Why a Forensic Speech-Language Pathologist Matters

⭐ Conditions Commonly Involved

This evaluation is especially important for individuals with:

TBI or concussion
Stroke
Aphasia
Developmental delay
Autism
Intellectual disability
Learning disabilities
PTSD or trauma history
ADHD
Pragmatic/social communication disorders
Low literacy
English-language learners

How This Impacts Legal Outcomes

A Communication Reliability & Vulnerability Analysis can determine:

✔ Whether a statement was misunderstood
✔ Whether the individual comprehended questions
✔ If responses were limited by cognitive deficits
✔ Whether narrative inconsistencies have clinical explanation
✔ If answers reflect fatigue, pressure, or confusion
✔ Whether signed consent was truly informed
✔ If a confession was voluntary, knowing, and intelligent
✔ How a witness or defendant can participate in court

Evaluation Process

Consultation with attorney
Records + statement review
Direct cognitive-communication evaluation
Analysis of interviews/statements
Full written forensic report
Expert testimony (if required)

Credentials: Erica Thomas, MS, CCC-SLP

Licensed SLP in AZ, CA, CO, FL, NM, PA, WA, VA

Neuro + cognitive-communication specialist
Experience with vulnerable populations
Expertise in forensic analysis of language, statements, and communication ability
Skilled in making complex science understandable for judges & attorneys