Prevalence of Speech and Language Disorders in Children Presenting to a Tertiary Care Center: Prevalence of Speech and Language Disorders in Children

Kausar Aftab; Erum Afzal; Imran Maqsood; Rukhsana Tabassum; Hafiz Muhammad Ishfaq

doi:10.54393/pjhs.v6i6.2882

Authors

Kausar Aftab Department of Developmental and Behavioural Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Multan, Pakistan
Erum Afzal Department of Developmental and Behavioural Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Multan, Pakistan
Imran Maqsood Department of Developmental and Behavioural Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Multan, Pakistan
Rukhsana Tabassum Department of Developmental and Behavioural Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Multan, Pakistan
Hafiz Muhammad Ishfaq Department of Developmental and Behavioural Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Multan, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/pjhs.v6i6.2882

Keywords:

Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Global Developmental Disorder, Language, Speech

Abstract

Speech and language disorders (SLDs) are among the most common developmental challenges in children. While some children may experience only a speech disorder or a language disorder. Objective: To determine the prevalence of SLDs in children presenting to a tertiary childcare hospital in South Punjab, Pakistan. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Developmental and Behavioural Pediatric Department, The Children’s Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Multan. A sample size of 300 was calculated. Children aged 2 to 16 years were analyzed. Non-probability, a convenient sampling technique was adopted. Socio-demographic data, including gender, age, residence and socio-economic status, were collected, and SLDs were identified. SLDs were correlated with gender and age groups, applying a chi-square test (p<0.05 considered significant). Results: 12,055 (81.0%) had SLDs, with a male predominance (8441, 70.0%). The mean age was 5.04 ± 2.69 years. The most common SLDs were global developmental delay (GDD) (31.3%), cerebral palsy (17.3%), intellectual disability (17.0%), and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (11.2%). GDD (34.1% vs. 30.1%, p<0.001), cerebral palsy (18.3% vs. 16.8%, p<0.001), and hearing loss (4.2% vs. 1.9%, p<0.001) were more common in females, while ASD (12.3% vs. 8.6%, p<0.001) and stammering (5.3% vs. 3.1%, p<0.001) were more common in male. GDD and ASD were more prevalent in younger children (p<0.001), while cerebral palsy and articulation disorders were more common in older children (p<0.001). Conclusions: The prevalence of SLDs among children visiting the developmental and behavioural pediatric outpatient department of a tertiary childcare setting is very high, particularly among male, and younger children.

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