Browsing by Author "Takala, Heidi-Maria"

Objectives. The paradigm of speech and language therapy has changed from linear cause-effect thinking to systemic perspective that impresses the importance of environmental factors. Community-based speech and language therapy is one example of systemic action. In community-based rehabilitation the focus is on working with people close to individual with special needs. With reference to children important communities are family members and kindergarten workers. There are some applications of community-based speech and language therapy in the field of rehabilitation but more information is needed. The aim of this study is to bring more information about community-based rehabilitation by introducing one way of implementing it. This study focuses on Hyvinkää's community-based speech and language therapy (yhteisöllisen toiminnan puheterapia). Goal of this study was to find out how the Hyvinkää model works and what do workers think of it. Methods. Two community-based speech and language therapists and six kindergarten workers working with Hyvinkää's community-based model participated in semistructured interviews. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. A qualitative analyze was used where data was themed and typed in the way by which it was possible to answer research questions. Results. Community-based speech and language therapy in Hyvinkää included primarily work with kindergarten staff to promote interaction and to support children's speech and language development. Functions occurred always in groups and were not defined as rehabilitation. Collaboration with speech and language therapists often included concrete actions like how to link signs in everyday activity. Kindergarten workers described speech and language therapists as a professional of their field, and that their own task was to put into practice those techniques therapists has introduced. Interviewees were very satisfied working with Hyvinkää's model. It seems like when kindergarten workers are motivated to work in collaboration with community-based speech and language therapist it is possible to carry out community-based model and ways of supporting speech and language development can be implemented in day care groups. It also seems like Hyvinkää's community-based model has a chance to be good support in children's individual rehabilitation.