Public health aspects of phonological articulation disorders in preschool children - literature review

Speech communication is complex and is based on the integrity of the central nervous system (CNS) function, as well as the speech mechanisms that are conditioned and controlled by an auditory perception, verbal memory, intellectual activity, but also by the peripheral speech apparatus. If there is a deviation from this integrated complex system in its perfect functioning, speech disorders occur. The aim of the paper was to make a literature review that provides scientific evidence of the most frequent phonological articulation disorders in pre-school children and their public health impact. Materials and Methods: Search in the available databases, such as Pubmed, Google scholar, as well as a review of the references in the papers, doctoral dissertations and master thesis. The following search terms were used: speech, language, disorders, dysphasia, dyslalia, aphasia, public health. Results: A total of 90 abstracts were found, all of them were read and 15 were selected as appropriate for the purpose of our research, as well as in extenso papers that were found and analyzed for this review. Conclusions: According to the available scientific evidence, the development of speech and language is a useful indicator of the overall development of the child, and the cognitive ability is related to the success of the school, and therefore the academic development. This rationale supports pre-school speech and language screening as a part of the basic language routine care for children. Public health impact will be reduced through timely diagnosis, prompt detection, prevention and removal of all factors leading to permanent speech disorders.

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Public health impact of detention of individuals with tuberculosis: systematic literature review

Public Health ◽

10.1016/s0033-3506(03)00035-0 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 117 (4) ◽

pp. 281-287 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

R.J. Coker

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Literature Review ◽

Systematic Literature Review ◽

Health Impact ◽

Public Health Impact

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Prevalence of Phonological Articulation Disorders in Preschool Children in the City of Skopje

PRILOZI ◽

10.2478/prilozi-2020-0043 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (3) ◽

pp. 31-37

Author(s):

Evgenija Grigorova ◽

Gordana Ristovska ◽

Nada Pop Jordanova

Keyword(s):

Preschool Children ◽

Verbal Memory ◽

Speech Disorders ◽

Speech Disorder ◽

Educational Process ◽

Speech Communication ◽

Intellectual Activity ◽

Preschool Period ◽

Articulation Disorders ◽

The City

AbstractIntroduction: Speech communication is a complex process based on the function of the central nervous system, and also on the speech mechanisms conditioned and controlled by auditory perception, verbal memory, intellectual activity and peripheral speech apparatus.The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the most common phonological articulation disorders in preschool children, from 4-6 years old.Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during 2018, on a representative sample of 550 preschool children aged 4 - 6 years, who attend preschool institutions-kindergartens in the city of Skopje. The study used standardized articulation tests: The Global Articulation Test (GAT) and the Triple Test (vocals, plasia, affricative, fricative, nasal, and lateral), and a questionnaire filled out by a social worker at the kindergarten about the socioeconomic status and the child’s health condition.Results: Using GAT, we found that 260 (47.3%) children didn’t manifest any phonological articulation disorders, but 290 (52.7%) had disorders. The analysis of gender-based data showed a higher percentage of speech disorders in 57% of boys and 46.9% of girls. The highest percentage of speech disorder is sigmatism with 24.5% in boys and 20.4% in girls, rhotacismus was found in 17.8% in boys and 16.5% in girls. Lambdacism with 8.3% was found in boys and 4.2% in girls. A mixed form (sigmatism, rotacism, and lambdacism) was also found in 2.4% of boys and 3.5% of girls.Conclusions: The calculated prevalence of phonological articulation disorders in preschool children aged 4-6 years is 52.7%, (57.9% in boys and 46.9% in girls), or every second child in kindergarten has some form of speech disorder. These findings indicate that the treatment of speech disorders should begin in the appropriate services as soon as possible, because the early detection and treatment of speech disorders enable child’s normal intellectual development. The treatment should be started in the preschool period, to allow the start of the educational process without any speech problems.

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Speech disorders in preschool children in Republic of North Macedonia – cross sectional study

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckab165.504 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 31 (Supplement_3) ◽

Author(s):

E Grigorova ◽

G Ristovska

Keyword(s):

Preschool Children ◽

Early Detection ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Speech Disorders ◽

Speech Disorder ◽

Speech Communication ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Intellectual Activity ◽

Articulation Disorders

Abstract Background Speech communication is a complex process based on the function of the central nervous system, and also on speech mechanisms conditioned and controlled by auditory perception, verbal memory, intellectual activity and peripheral speech apparatus. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the most common phonological articulation disorders in preschool children, from 4-6 years old. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted during 2018 year on a representative sample of 550 preschool children aged 4 - 6 years, who attend preschool institutions-kindergartens in the city of Skopje. The study used standardized articulation tests: the Global Articulation Test (GAT) and the Triple Test (vocals, plasia, africative, fricative, nasal, and lateral), and a questionnaire filled out by a social worker at the kindergarten for socioeconomic status and the child's health condition. Results Using GAT, we found that 260 (47.3%) children didn't have a phonological articulation disorders, and 290 (52.7%) had disorders. The analysis of gender-based data showed a higher percentage of speech disorders in 57% of boys and 46.9% of girls. The highest percentage of speech disorder is sigmatism with 24.5% in boys and 20.4% in girls, rhotachism was found in 17.8% in boys and 16.5% in girls. Lambdacism with 8.3% was found in boys and 4.2% in girls. A mixed form (sigmatism, rotacism, and lambdacism) was also found in 2.4% of boys and 3.5% of girls. Conclusions The prevalence of phonological articulation disorders in preschool children is 52.7%, 57.9% in boys and 46.9% in girls, or every second child in kindergarden at age 4-6 years has speech disorder. These findings indicate that the treatment of speech disorders should be started in appropriate services as soon as possible, because early detection and treatment of speech disorders enable to child normal intellectual development. Key messages Speech disorders are important public health issue because these children will require in some cases emotional and behavioral support, not only speech-related intervention. The treatment of speech disorders should be started in appropriate services because early detection and treatment of speech disorders gives the child more confidence to build his intellect.

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