Variety of Speech and Language Disorders Reporting at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Malwa Belt of Punjab, India

Abstract

Background: A wide variety of speech and language disorders has been known to exist. These disorders impair the ability to communicate to different extent so as to adversely affect social, emotional and functional well-being of a person. In literature, little has been documented about types of various such disorders and their frequency of occurrence. Less is known about pattern of such patients seeking speech language assessment and therapeutic services. Hence need of the present study. Method: Data was collected from a total 6707 patients reporting with communication difficulty to Audiology and Speech Language Pathology wing of ENT department, GGS Medical College Hospital, Faridkot, a tertiary care hospital of Punjab, India. Patients' data were classified depending on (a) age, (b) gender, and (c) diagnosis. Results: Maximum number of patients was aged below 10 years of age which accounted to approximately 43% of the total patients with speech and language difficulties. The number of patients was observed to reduce as age increased. Mis-articulation was most common among all disorders in the first two decades of life where as stuttering was maximally evident in the young age group (21-30 years). Voice related difficulties were most affecting in the middle age groups (31-50 years). Conclusions: Results of the present study would be useful in guiding administrative authorities to establish adequate and suitable infrastructure, employment of disability specific professionals and manpower, proper planning and execution in order to accommodate variety of case load. Awareness program or meetings can be arranged to make the co-professionals (doctors, nurses, and other para-medical staffs) well versed with a Speech Language Pathologist's scope of practice.