Browsing by Author "Tappura, Hanna"

Aim: Due to the plasticity of the brain of a child under three years old early intervention can be very effective and affect the growth and development of the child extensively. As a concept early intervention is as yet unestablished within our healthcare system. The purpose of this study was to find out what kind of experiences Finnish speech-language therapists (SLTs) have about the assessment and the rehabilitation of children under three years old and the readiness of SLTs to work with these small children. The study also aimed to find out the reasons why small children are being sent to speech-language therapists. Methods: This study was done by a questionnaire and the material was gathered using an electrical survey with the E-lomake -program of the University of Helsinki between April and May 2016. The questionnaire was delivered to Finnish SLTs via the Finnish Assocation of Speech Therapists and four corporations that employ SLTs. The data was analysed with the IBM SPSS Statistics 24 -program using nonparameterized statistical tests and qualitative grouping. Results and conclusions: The questionnaire was answered by 194 SLTs out of which 111 worked regulary and 73 occasionally with children under three. The SLTs’ know-how about working with small children was mostly based on work experience. The professional capabilities were maintained and developed by additional trainings and literature. A degree in logopedics was considered to provide only minor capabilities toward working with small children. The results indicate that small children are sent to SLTs mostly because of disabilities and delayed speech development. The most popular assessment methods were tests, free observation and interviewing the child’s parents. AAC methods and playing were popular methods of rehabilitation. The practices in rehabilitating small children were varying and based on the available resources. According to the SLTs other healthcare professionals are not aware of what an SLT does and therefore their know-how is not utilized to it’s full extent.