Treating children with speech and language impairments

doi:10.1136/bmj.321.7266.908

BMJ 2000;321:908-909 ( 14 October )

Editorials

Treating children with speech and language impairments

Six hours of therapy is not enough

Papers p 923

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

About 5-8% of children under the age of 5 have developmental impairments of speech and language. This proportion is higherthan that for any other neurodevelopmental condition occurringat that age.¹ Parents are concerned about these impairments,and the number of children being referred to speech and languagetherapy services is increasing.²

These impairments are characterised by a low level of speech and language skills. Such difficulties may occur secondary todisabilities such as cerebral palsy, sensorineural hearing loss,or autism. Impairment may also be the main symptom in a constellationof comorbid difficulties, such as challenging behaviour or otitismedia.³

Although spontaneous remission of symptoms in primary speech and language disorders sometimes occurs many children will experiencelong term effects from these disorders. Studies of samples ofchildren from different communities show that children who areat the extreme ends of the distribution of speech and languageimpairment are at . . . [Full text of this article]

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Relevant Article

Randomised controlled trial of community based speech and language therapy in preschool children: Margaret Glogowska, Sue Roulstone, Pam Enderby, and Tim J Peters
BMJ 2000 321: 923. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

Shaughnessy, A., Sanger, D. (2005). Kindergarten Teachers' Perceptions of Language and Literacy Development, Speech--Language Pathologists, and Language Interventions. Communication Disorders Quarterly 26: 67-84 [Abstract]
Laing, G. J, Law, J., Levin, A., Logan, S. (2002). Evaluation of a structured test and a parent led method for screening for speech and language problems: prospective population based study. BMJ 325: 1152-1152 [Abstract] [Full text]
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Rapid Responses:

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Treatment efficacy: Carole Martin
bmj.com, 17 Oct 2000 [Full text]
preventing speech impairment in some children: Wendy McLean
bmj.com, 5 Nov 2000 [Full text]
New Issues In Efficacy of Treatment: Carole J Martin
bmj.com, 5 Oct 2003 [Full text]