Opinion of Speech Language Pathologist/Therapist About Common Communication and Swallowing Difficulties in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Background:  Children with cerebral Palsy experiences variety of speech, language and swallowing difficulties. The nature and severity of these difficulties depends upon the type of motor impairment diagnosed in each child.

Objective: The objective of this study is to find out the opinion of speech pathologists/therapists regarding the common communication difficulties in children with cerebral palsy.

Methodology: The study included 212 speech language therapists. Respondents were BS, MS and diploma holders with the experience of 1 year or more dealing with children with cerebral palsy.  Data was collected using a questionnaire developed by Literature Review and Expert Opinion Using Content Validity Index. It constituted 21 questions on different aspects of speech, language, and swallowing difficulties to gain therapists’ opinion on the frequency of specific difficulties observed in their interactions with children having cerebral palsy. For results, Frequency and Percentages were calculated of the responses.

Results:  Results indicated that Children with CP has problem in attention deficit, Problem understanding words, writing difficulties, have Orofacial weakness and also have articulation problems. 

Conclusion: It is concluded that the Children with CP have communication and swallowing difficulties associated with impairments in oral motor function, expression and comprehension, and the functioning of oral and pharyngeal swallowing stages in children with cerebral palsy.

Key words: Cerebral Palsy, Oral Motor Functioning, Pathologist, Expression, Comprehension, Deglutition