Children with specific language impairment: parental accounts of the early years

Parent views of specific language impairment have received little attention in the literature, even though speech and language development is the single greatest area of concern for parents. This article examines parental views of events up to, and including, language unit admission for their children. A series of qualitative interviews was conducted with parents. Parents felt that, apart from speech and language difficulties, the children were developing normally. They placed a low value on speech and language therapy, and saw language unit admission as the only intervention that 'worked'. Initially, some children were placed in mainstream school, where their failure to keep up with peers resulted in transfer to a language unit. Parent views provide a unique understanding of the impact of specific language impairment on the child and family. Such information is essential for the early diagnosis and treatment of this condition.