Research shows that as many as one in six children experience developmental delays, including challenges with motor skills, speech and language, and social development, making early intervention critical.
Recognising this, and in observance of National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, the Tobago Regional Health Authority hosted free screenings for children over two days in Scarborough and Roxborough.
Manager of the Speech and Language Therapy Department at the Tobago Regional Health Authority, Stephanie Minty, said that after COVID-19, health practitioners observed an increase in children experiencing speech and language delays.
“That cohort of children which were at home, not in school at that time, getting a lot of screen time, those kids are, in our experience, more likely to have speech and language delay, and particularly the ones that were home looking at a tablet or smartphone.”
Ms. Minty said research shows children under age six months who are exposed to two hours of handheld screen time a day are six times more likely to have speech and language delays.
“And every 30-minute increase under age two leads to an exponential 49% increase in the risk for speech and language delay, so that birth-to-three age range is particularly important to put the screens down, have interpersonal face-to-face interactions and develop those foundational social skills.”
She noted, however, that although children might experience delays in speech and language development, there is hope.
“Research shows that early intervention between the ages of birth to three is the most effective type of intervention when we can effect the most change on children’s development. So we don’t want to do the kind of old-fashioned wait-and-see approach. We want to perform early intervention if possible.”
For this reason, the TRHA hosted free screenings for children at the Scarborough Library and Roxborough Hospital in speech, language and hearing. However, if a parent was not able to attend the screenings but noticed delays in their children, help remains available.
“The TRHA offers therapy in three locations: Scarborough General Hospital, Roxborough Hospital, as well as the Child and Adolescent Centre. Speech therapy is done on a referral basis.”
Health facilities and paediatricians also have the ability to issue referrals for parents, should challenges be detected.