Preventive Interventions for Speech Development in Preschool Children. Research Report

Preschool age is a period of intensive language development. The aim of the study was to assess the quality of prevention of speech disorders in preschoolers and to verify the knowledge of speech therapists on the preventive strategies used during speech development. The specific features of the study required the use of a diagnostic survey method, which allowed for assessing social awareness as well as investigating the opinions and views of speech therapists. Based on the analysis of the obtained results, preventive measures implemented by speech therapists in preschoolers and therapists’ ideas on further steps to improve the quality of these measures were discussed. The educational interventions of speech therapists targeting parents and teachers, as well as their opinion on the preventive effectiveness of information technology were also addressed. Additionally, the quality of cooperation between speech therapists and other specialists to improve prevention of speech disorders was discussed. The results confirm that speech therapists employ diverse preventive approaches which are important for proper speech shaping in preschool children. The research has shown the interdisciplinary nature of teams cooperating for the prevention among preschool children and a wide range of specialists involved in this process. Speech therapists encounter minor difficulties when cooperating with other professional groups. Solving these problems requires both individual and systemic changes that would support better work organisation and communication between specialists.