Delayed referral in children with speech and language disorders for rehabilitation services

ABSTRACT

Speech and language development is one of the main aspects of evolution in humans and is one of the most complex brain functions such that it is referred to as one of the highest cortical functions such as thinking, reading and writing. Speech and language disorders are considered as a major public health problem because they cause many secondary complications in the childhood and adulthood period which affect one's socioeconomic status overall. This study was conducted in two phases. The first phase was to identify all potential factors influencing delay in referral of children with speech and language disorders for receiving rehabilitation services, based on literature as well as the families' and experts' points of view. In the second phase of the study which was designed in a case-control manner, actual factors influencing the time of referral were compared between two groups of participants. Receiving proper counseling by physicians about importance of the issue had significant impact on the on-time referral for treatment of children with speech and language disorders. After definite diagnosis of speech and language disorders in the child, parents' awareness about the consequences of speech and language disorders had a significant influence on early referral for speech and language pathology services and our hypothesis was confirmed. Discussion: This study highlighted the importance of multiple factors and their relationship with the time of referral, the majority of which were somehow related to one of two major factors parental awareness and concerns, and physicians' counseling. As described earlier, our study showed that before diagnosis of the child's disorder is definitely given, the physicians' counseling regarding the importance and necessity of early diagnosis, as well as of screening and diagnostic tests play a significant role in the time of referral for receiving speech and language pathology services