Description
Children with neurological conditions represent a significant client group for speech and language therapists (SLTs). Dysarthria is common in this group of children, and issues with intelligibility can considerably affect their education, wellbeing and social participation. Improving speech outcomes is considered an important focus of childhood dysarthria intervention. However, SLTs face a number of challenges when working with children with dysarthria.
In this talk, I will first provide an overview of some of the challenges encountered by SLTs in the management of childhood dysarthria. I will then present some findings from a recent online survey among German-speaking SLTs, which aimed to determine how SLTs make clinical decisions regarding the assessment and treatment of dysarthria in children with neurological conditions (Kuschmann, Haas & Schölderle, in preparation). I will also explore findings from a recent project that sought to understand whether and to what extend performing arts activities such as theatre classes can lead to improved speech outcomes in children with dysarthria (Kuschmann & Mirihagalla Kankanamalage, 2022).
I will discuss the findings of both projects in the context of the challenges identified and share some thoughts on the next steps required to better support dysarthria management in children with neurological conditions.
| Period | 30 Sept 2022 |
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| Held at | Karolinska Institute Stockholm Sweden |
| Degree of Recognition | International |