The Impact of Speech Impairment on Children’s Quality of Life and the Role of Speech Therapy
Zoe Levitt
13/11/27
Speech and language impairments can affect an individual's ability to communicate effectively and can have a lasting impact on academic performance, relationships, confidence and overall quality of life. This review examines the effects of speech and language impairments as well as the effectiveness of speech therapy interventions and a variety of interventions. Research articles that were relevant were gathered through Google Scholar and included meta analyses, experimental studies, and review articles. Review findings suggest that early identification and intervention are associated with stronger communication and positive social and emotional outcomes. Individualized speech therapy can improve speech production, articulation, literacy skills, confidence, and participation in school and social environments. However, barriers such as limited access to services, shortages of speech-language pathologists, lack of resources, and socioeconomic factors can prevent individuals from receiving appropriate treatment. Overall, the research demonstrates that early and individualized speech therapy is important for reducing the long-term effects of speech and language impairments and improving quality of life. Future research should further examine long-term academic outcomes, barriers to accessing treatment, and the effectiveness of technology-based interventions and telepractice as well as incorporating AI.