The Cocktail party syndrome.

In the medical literature on the 'cocktail party syndrome' very little attention has been directed towards contextual elements in evaluating children's behaviour. This research note reports upon how adults in one therapeutic community accounted the behaviour of Linda, identified as a cocktail party speaking hydrocephalic child. The descriptions of Linda as 'speaking like an adult' and of 'living in language' are examined in terms of their contextual constituents. Finally I examine briefly how adult staff members interact with Linda on a day-to-day basis and attempt to cope with the difficulties they see her as presenting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]