Bárbara Niegia Garcia de Goulart

Prevalência de desordens de fala em escolares e fatores associados

OBJECTIVE To assess prevalence of speech disorders in schoolchildren and its associated factors. METHODS Cross-sectional study comprising a random sample of 1,810 schoolchildren attending the first grade in public schools in a city of Southern Brazil, in 2001. Schoolchildren aged between five and 11 years were evaluated using a previously validated speech screening test for phonetic and/or phonologic disorders. Data on school failure, gender, age and maternal and paternal schooling were collected to test associations. Associations between variables were analyzed using the Chi-square test. RESULTS The prevalence of speech disorders in the children studied was 24.6% and they were more prevalent in younger children aged five and six compared to children aged ten or more. Speech disorders prevalence around five years old was 57% and between eight and ten years old was 42%. Speech disorders frequency was similar in both sexes. The prevalence of disorders was associated to maternal and paternal schooling, 79.5% and 78.6%, respectively, when parents had less then one year of study. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of speech disorders among schoolchildren studied was higher than that described in the literature. Parental schooling was a major factor associated to these disorders.

Speech-language pathology clinical evaluation, integrality and humanization: general perspectives and some thoughts

Clinical evaluation is an important instrument for the speech-language pathologist (SLP) successful approach. The aims of this article are: to present some issues concerning the SLPs assessment and approach; contribute to the discussions about SLPs clinical practice; provide some input to the considerations about the individual approach that is possible to each SLP, for better interpersonal contact with the patients and their families in accordance with their peculiarities and demands. With SLP assessment it is possible to achieve a functional communication diagnosis and design an intervention plan. Several studies published in other health related sciences show evidence on the need to review the way the relations between health professionals, patients and their families have been established. Clinical assessment has enormous importance in the SLP approach and constitutes one of the first contacts of the patient and their family with the SLP. Therefore, it is important that these questions are considered in this initial stage of the SLP clinical performance. So, it is crucial that the evaluation management and its correlates receive more attention by SLP undergraduate students, professors and tutors. Also, evaluations of the speech-language and audiology treatment progress must be considered at all times.