Ideas and visions of a new web application for early intervention: Interviews with parents of children with communication difficulties in Sweden

Background Communication and language are pivotal for children’s development and social functioning. Early identification of difficulties and timely interventions are essential. Interactive digital media offer new possibilities to support parents. Objective This study aimed to explore parents’ ideas and visions of a new web application that focused on an early parent-based communication intervention. Methods Twenty-one parents of children with communication difficulties participated in semi-structured audio interviews. The children, aged between 2 and 4 years, were on wait lists for assessment for either speech-language therapy or neuropsychiatric services. The interviews were analyzed using systematic text condensation. Results The analysis identified four categories indicating that parents of young children with communication difficulties needed information, advice, and real-life examples. They also desired personal contact and feedback. Parents provided concrete suggestions for an accessible design and useful content. They emphasized the importance of an understanding perspective and respectful tone. Parents’ views and ideas are discussed and presented visually in a figure and table to aid implementation in future digital application designs. Conclusions To support parents of young children with communication difficulties, it is crucial to understand their needs and preferences. This study contributes valuable insights to the body of knowledge on this topic.