Peer-reviewed article
Clinical characteristics and outcomes of referrals for speech and language delay to the Speech Therapy and Audiology department at a district hospital in Gauteng, South Africa.
Graca LBL, Strehlau R, Bezuidenhout JK ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study reviewed 150 children referred to a speech and language therapy department at a district hospital in South Africa between 2021 and 2022. Speech delay was the most common reason for referral, with children under 2 years old making up 42% of cases. Nearly half of children who were seen defaulted on follow-up appointments, and about 24% were referred for further neurodevelopmental assessment, with over half of these receiving an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis.
Key points
- Speech delay was the most common reason for referral (38% of cases)
- Children under 2 years old accounted for 42% of all referrals
- 49.2% of children who were seen defaulted on follow-up appointments
- 23.7% of children were referred for neurodevelopmental assessments, and 52% of those received an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis
- Only 2.5% of children were identified as having hearing loss
Limitations
This is a retrospective record review with no comparison group, so it describes patterns in referrals and outcomes rather than evaluating the effectiveness of interventions. The study cannot identify why defaulting on follow-up appointments occurred or whether children who did not complete follow-up received help elsewhere.
Abstract
Background Speech and language skills are essential for effective communication. Speech and language delays may have far-reaching consequences on a child's development; their early identification and intervention are paramount to a child reaching their full potential. Objectives To describe the referral process, clinical characteristics, risk factors and outcomes of paediatric referrals to a Speech Therapy and Audiology (STA) department at a district-level hospital in Gauteng, South Africa. Method A retrospective record review was conducted on paediatric outpatient referrals to the STA department between the 01 January 2021 and 30 June 2022. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed on the categorical data. Associations between receptive and expressive language delays and the presence of maternal comorbidities or a bilingual household were analysed using the Chi-squared test and Fisher's exact test. Results A total of 150 referrals were reviewed, with speech delay being the most common reason for referral (38%). Children under 2 years old accounted for 42% of the referrals. Of the children seen by the speech therapists and audiologists, 58 (49.2%) defaulted on follow-up appointments, and three (2.5%) were identified as having hearing loss. Twenty-eight children (23.7%) were referred for neurodevelopmental assessments, of whom 52% received a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The mean age of ASD diagnosis was 49.54 months (standard deviation 11.47). Conclusion Understanding the clinical profile and outcomes of children referred to a STA department at a district-level hospital provides valuable insight into the vital role of the speech therapists and audiologists in early identification and intervention of children with speech and language delay.Contribution: The STA departments at South African district hospitals are well-positioned for early identification and intervention, particularly for neurodevelopmental conditions, including ASD.