Social participation of children age 8–12 with SLI

Abstract

Purpose: Two objectives are being pursued: (1) to describe the level of social participation of children aged 8–12 presenting a specific language impairment (SLI) and (2) to identify personal and family factors associated with their level of social participation. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 29 children with SLI and one of their parents. Parental stress and family adversity were measured as risk factors. The measure of life habits (LIFE-H) adapted to children aged 5-3 was used to measure social participation. Results: The assumption that social participation of these children is impaired in relation to the communication dimension was generally confirmed. The statements referring to the “communication in the community” and “written communication” are those for which the results are weaker. “Communication at home” is made easier albeit with some difficulties, while “telecommunication” is totally preserved. A high level of parental stress is also confirmed, affecting the willingness of parents to support their child’s autonomy. Conclusions: The achievement of a normal lifestyle of children with SLI is upset in many spheres of life. Methods of intervention must better reflect the needs and realities experienced by these children in their various living environments, in order to optimize social participation, and consequently, to improve their well-being and that of their families. The need to develop strategies to develop children's independence and to reduce parental stress must be recognized and all stakeholders need to be engaged in the resolution of this challenge.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• The realization of life habits of SLI children is compromised at various levels, especially in the domain related to “communication in the community” and “written communication”.

• Speech-language pathologists must consider providing ongoing support throughout the primary years of these children and during adolescence, to promote and facilitate the continued realization of life habits of SLI persons.

• Providing ongoing support throughout the primary years and thereafter is needed to facilitate the continuing realization of life habits of SLI persons.

• Parents of children with SLI experience considerable stress in relation to the exercise of their parental roles.

• It is important to intervene and to support parents to promote autonomy for their SLI children.

Keywords:

• Life habits
• parental stress
• SLI
• social participation

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the children and their parents who generously gave of their time to participate in this study. They also thank Geneviève Boivin and Julie Beaulieu, respectively speech-language pathologist and occupational therapist, actually both being administrators at the Institute for Physical Rehabilitation. They initiated this project, participated in the data collection and greatly contributed to the analysis of the clinical outcomes of the results.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest. This project was supported by the Fondation Élan of the Institut de Réadaptation en Déficience Physique de Québec.