Timeliness of care received by children with speech and language disorders attending a speech therapy clinic at a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Speech and language therapy is an evolving field in the Sri Lankan health setting which enhances the quality of life of speech disabled children. However, timely identification and intervention is a key determinant in the success of speech therapy. Objective: To assess the timeliness of care received by children with speech and language disorders attending the Speech and Language Therapy Clinic at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, Colombo. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used to collect data on timeliness of disease identification, care seeking and referral as well as the sources of identification, care seeking and referral. The time gaps between identification, care seeking and referral were calculated. Factors associated with timeliness of identification and the differences of time gap between various sub groups were analyzed. Results: Mean ages of identification, care seeking and referral of speech/language disorder were 15.3, 18.3 and 24.3 months respectively. Female sex, higher maternal education, being an extended family, positive family history and having an associated condition were significantly associated with earlier age of identification. The Medical Officer of Health team was involved in identification of only 11 (4.3%) children, despite the frequent encounters. The time gap between identification and care seeking was more than 3 months in 102 (40%) subjects. Multilingual family and having an employed mother were significantly associated with lesser time gap. The time gap between seeking of care and referral for speech therapy was more than 3 months in 96 (41.6%). Most (57.1%) parents had sought care from ___________________________________________

Availability of rehabilitation services for communication disorders in Sri Lanka: a cross-sectional survey

“…15 The first university programme to train speech therapists was initiated in 1998 as a collaboration between the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, and Sri Lankan and British academics at the University of Kelaniya. 16 Initially, it was started as a 2-year diploma programme but was later upgraded to a 4-year degree programme in 2008, 17 conforming to level 6 of the Sri Lanka Qualification Framework of the University Grants Commission. 18 Audiology technicians were trained by the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka as a diploma programme prior to the commencement of the 4-year bachelor’s degree programme at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya in 2008.…”