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Publication
Early Identification of Pre-school Children with Speech-language Disorder in Primary Health Care Settings
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Speech-language disorders in pre-school children is considered a public health problem since its international prevalence is reportedly to be 20%. This study aimed to identify European-Portuguese pre-school children with speech-language disorder through RALF speech-language screening (Rastreio de Linguagem e Fala), in primary health care settings. RALF is a reliable and valid instrument that revealed strong levels of reliability, sensitivity and specificity for European-Portuguese (EP) pre-school children.
10 nurses with more than 6 years of clinical experience in a primary health care centers administered RALF to 37 (5-6 years old) EP children as part of health-child care routine.
Results indicate that 21.6% of children did not pass the RALF screen and were referred to an in-depth speech and language assessment.
This finding was in agreement with international research and reinforces the need for an early and precocious identification of the speech-language disorder in pre-school children. That is, way before the disorder has installed and has an impact on the academic, social and emotional development. This action-research study also reveals the important of using a valid, reliable, sensitive, and specific, as well as, culturally and linguistically adequate screening instruments by the health professionals as part of health-child care routine in primary health care centers.
Description
Keywords
children screening health care prevention speech-language development
Citation
Mendes, A.P., Valente, A. R., Loureiro, H., Clemêncio, G., Melo, E. & Lousada, M. (2017). Early Identification of Pre-school Children with Speech-language Disorder in Primary Health Care Settings. International Journal of Psychology and Neuroscience, 3(2), 61-66.