Distribution of Speech Disorders According to Age in Patients Presenting with Speech Problems

OpenAlex İngilizce

In this retrospective study, we examined the records of 2,300 individuals who presented to the health board with the complaint of speech disorder between January 2011 and November 2015. The aim of this study is to determine the distribution of speech disorders according to age and to investigate the effects of additional disease/disability conditions on. Material and Methods: Of the individuals who presented to the health board with the complaint of speech disorder 1,530 were children and 770 were adults. Individuals were divided into 3 groups according to their age. Group 1 consisted of 700 individuals aged 2 to 6 years. Group 2 included 830 individuals aged between 7 and 18, and Group 3 included 770 individuals aged 19 years or older. Findings from 2,300 individuals' language, articulation, fluency, and voice evaluation tests which were performed by two audiology and speech disorders specialists and 1 educational audiology specialist were recorded. According to the file information, additional diseases/disability conditions accompanying with speech disorder were also investigated. Results: A significant difference was found between the groups in terms of the obstacle scores in all the categories of language, articulation, fluency and voice and total speech disability scores (p<0.05). It was determined that both the highest total speech obstacle score and the highest rate of additional disease/disability to speech disorder were in the 2-6 age group. In all age groups, it was found that the presence of additional disease/disability to speech disorders increased speech obstacle scores in all areas. Conclusion: A comprehensive and standard evaluation should be made in individuals who apply to the health board with speech problems. It is thought to be important to determine the additional disease/disability conditions accompanying speech disorder in individuals. Routine speech and language assessment is recommended for individuals with additional disease/disability accompanying speech impairment.