ERIC Number: EJ1463797
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Mar
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1368-2822
EISSN: EISSN-1460-6984
Available Date: 2025-02-20
Parenting Children with Developmental Language Disorder in the Days of COVID-19 in Turkey: Expectations and Possibilities
International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, v60 n2 e70010 2025
Background: Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, speech-language therapists faced challenges in reaching children with developmental language disorders (DLDs) for a certain period. This unexpected change also had a profound impact on parents of children with DLDs. Despite its significance, there is limited research exploring the experiences of parents who were unable to consult with specialists and their perspectives on telepractice services. Aims: The primary objective of this study is to investigate the experiences of parents with children diagnosed with DLD (n = 5) related to accessing experts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods and Procedures: Prior to the onset of pandemic-related closures, assessments for children with DLDs were conducted, and plans for initiating their therapies were in place. Parents of children who were unable to commence therapy were invited to participate in the study. Interpretative phenomenological analysis principles were employed to analyse the collected data. Outcomes and Results: The findings are analysed under four themes. Parents initially expressed the negative impact of being unable to reach experts, which led them to independently support their children's language development. Despite reservations about telepractice, parents were willing to participate. However, they reported feeling unprepared for the abrupt transition to telepractice, particularly regarding the technical requirements, which were limited in availability. Conclusions and Implications: Maintaining communication with parents, particularly during crisis periods, is crucial for children in need of speech and language therapy. Providing parents with information about the therapy process, their child's language disorder, and the potential use of telepractice is essential. This approach ensures that we can offer effective support for the children.
Descriptors: Child Rearing, Language Impairments, COVID-19, Pandemics, Foreign Countries, Children, Parents, Parent Attitudes, Telecommunications, Medical Services, Communication (Thought Transfer)
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www-wiley-com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Turkey
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Speech and Language Therapy Department, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey; 2Kutahya Dumlupinar University, Primary Education, Kutahya, Turkey; 3Independent researcher, Ankara, Turkey; 4Department of Audiology, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey