Introduction: Differential
diagnosis and early intervention are quite important in childhood language
disorders. A wide variety of approaches can be used in language therapies and
these approaches are divided into such classes as clinician-centered,
child-centered or hybrid approaches. It is thought that the comparison about
the assessment and treatment techniques for delayed language and Specific
Language Impairment between the USA and Turkey where speech and language
therapy field does not have an old history may contribute to both practice and
research. For that reason, it was aimed to compare the methods and approaches
of assessment and treatment in cases of delayed language and specific language
impairment between speech and language therapists who live in the USA and
Turkey in this study. Method:
The descriptive research model was used in this study and two equivalent
questionnaires of eight questions related to assessment and treatment procedures
in Turkish and English were prepared by the researchers in order to collect the
data. 56 participants from Turkey and 128 participants from the USA, 184
participants in total, participated to the study. The corresponding author prepared
the English version of the survey. The questionnaires were delivered to the
participants online. SPSS-20 package
program was used for the data analysis. Results
& Conclusion: According to the
findings, speech and language therapists work mostly at the rehabilitation centers
in Turkey (32,14 %) while the speech and language therapists work mostly in
schools (57 %) in the USA. It was found that there is no speech and language
therapist who works in schools in Turkey, as there is no available position for
speech and language therapists at schools in Turkey. The findings show that
there are differences between the USA and Turkey about referenced experts/
professionals in cases of delayed language and specific language impairment
referrals. It is noteworthy that in the USA reference for evaluation is mainly
directed to psychologist and as a second professional to special education
experts apart from speech and language therapist. Although referenced experts
show variety in Turkey, reference is done most commonly to child psychiatrists.
When the assessment tools for delayed language and Specific Language Impairment
between the USA and Turkey were compared, there were no statistically
significant differences between the two groups. Both groups prefer informal observation
during assessment process. Survey
findings also indicate that the most commonly used approaches for Specific
Language Impairment and language delay were Phonological Awareness Approach
(x̄=2,78) and Floortime, which
is one of Relationship Based Approaches (x̄=2,48) in Turkey while the
Play Based Approach (x̄=2,90)
and Visual Strategies to
Facilitate Approach were the most preferred ones in
the USA. (x̄=2, 81). The least used approach for both
countries was the Writing Lab Approach. In the intervention sessions of delayed
language and Specific Language Impairment, the speech and language therapists
in Turkey chose toys as materials (55, 3 %) while the ones in the USA mostly preferred
books (36, 2 %) besides other variable options such as flashcards, games,
pictures, videos, Ipad and core boards.
Keywords
Delayed language, Specific Language Impairment, developmental language disorder, speech and language therapy, treatment, assessment, comparison
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