Proposal of differentiated care to parents of children with complaints of language alterations

ABSTRACT

Proposal of differentiated care to parents of children with complaints of language alterations

Márcia Generoso Ribeiro

Graduate Program (Masters degree) in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo – PUC-SP – São Paulo (SP), Brazil

^{Correspondence address}

INTRODUCTION: It has been increasing in private or public Speech-Language and Hearing clinics demands for care to children with complaints like: "do not talk", "speaks little", "speaks wrong", or "presents unintelligible productions". The possibility to accept that demand in the National Health System is a relevant issue in accordance with public health policies based on the concepts of promotion, prevention and care.

AIM: To check the efficacy of a differentiated care procedure, with preventive purposes, to parents of children with language alterations complaints waiting for speech-language therapy in the National Health System.

METHODS: Quantitative and qualitative research with participation of six families waiting for speech-language therapy at a Health Unit in São Paulo. Five instruments were used: 1- initial interview with parents; 2- language evaluation; 3- communicative abilities and difficulties questionnaire for parents; 4- communicative attitudes observation protocol for parents, filled in from the filming of a play activity between parents and their child, and an instrument that guided the construction of the differentiated care; 5- favorable and unfavorable actions to communication, play and oral habits. After three months, the instruments 2, 3 and 4 were re-applied, to check whether there were changes.

RESULTS: After the differentiated care, all families reported a better understanding of their children's speech. A general increase in favorable attitudes, such as discourse reformulations, continuity enunciations, and requests for clarification, was observed, as well as a decrease in unfavorable attitudes. That showed a positive impact on the dialogism, on the resulting interactions, and on the communicative skills of the children.

CONCLUSION: Results show that the proposed differentiated care was effective as speech-language and hearing clinical device in public health and may establish new care practices, family-centered and centered in the commitments of co-responsibility between health professionals and the public.

Study presented to the Graduate Program in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo – PUC-SP – São Paulo (SP), Brazil, for obtaining the Masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, under supervision of Profa. Dra. Sílvia Friedman.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  24 Sept 2012
• Date of issue
  2012