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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on children with a speech and language disorder and their therapy

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Background The COVID-19 pandemic caused massive restrictions in our daily life. Kindergartens and schools were closed (lockdown) and children were forced to pause their therapy. Materials and Methods We conducted a survey during August and October 2020 and asked parents of children with a speech and language disorder about their child's therapy during lockdown and their fears and sorrows associated with it. Results Parents of 39 children participated (age: 6,15 years (3,06 - 10,09)). 34 children received speech therapy before lockdown. This therapy was paused for 17 children during lockdown. The other 17 children still received speech therapy during lockdown with the following alterations: hygiene measures (n=12), via internet (Skype, Zoom;n=3) or via work sheets sent by mail (n=1). Parents whose children were forced to pause therapy were more likely to worry about their children to stagnate or even regress in their development. Furthermore, they feared that their children were less motivated to return to therapy after lockdown and/or might develop problems in school. In addition to that, those parents felt more left alone with their sorrows and more burdened by missing support for their children. Discussion Due to the physiological speech development, there is a sensitive time frame for a child with a speech and language disorder to receive therapy. Forcing them to pause therapy might influence their development in a negative manner. Their parents might also be mentally burdened. It is important to acknowledge this in future political decisions, so that children with speech and language disorders won't have a permanent handicap.