[Subjective aspects in mothers of speech impaired children]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the subjective burden in mothers of speech impaired children against the presence or absence of emotional disorders such as anxiety and depression.

A total of 89 mothers (age 33.3+/-5.5 years, range: 19.6-43.8 years) of 89 speech impaired preschool children (23 girls, 66 boys, age: 3.9+/-1.5 years, range: 1.6-7.1 years) were examined. Screening for a depressive or anxiety disorder was performed using the German version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale HADS-D. The "Short Questionnaire on Current Burden" (Kurzfragebogen zur Aktuellen Belastung, KAB) was used to measure the level of perceived subjective burden at the time of the investigation.

A higher score in the KAB test occurred significantly more often in mothers with a positive HADS depression/anxiety subscale result than in those with a negative one.

There is a need for specific assessment of wellbeing in mothers of speech impaired children. In clinical practice, one may restrict oneself to the use of a screening test for anxiety and depression.