[Long-term course after inpatient speech therapy: educational and language development of children with severe...

Studies from primarily English-speaking countries have shown that specific language impairments can lead to disadvantages in educational and professional development. Corresponding studies for Germany have not been published. This study surveys the educational and language outcomes of adolescents and young adults who were treated in an inpatient setting during childhood.

A total of 193 young adults who had received inpatient treatment between 1998 and 2005 at the Department of Communication Disorders of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head, and Neck Surgery (ENT) of the Mainz University Medical Center were assessed. The cohort was contacted by telephone and interviewed about aspects of their educational and language development using a specially developed questionnaire. It was possible to include 70 participants in the study.

Almost half (48.6%; n = 34) of the participants had attended a regular elementary school and 50% (n = 35) attended a special school with a focus on speech-language development (others: 1.4%, n = 1). Regarding school-leaving qualifications, 31.5% (n = 22) finished school with an Abitur/Fachabitur (high-school-level certificate), 33% (n = 23) with a Realschulabschluss (secondary school certificate), 30% (n = 21) with a Hauptschulabschluss (lower secondary certificate), and 4% (n = 3) with a special school certificate. Only one participant left school without a qualification. Of the interviewed participants, 71% (n = 50) do not feel any speech language limitations anymore.

The results indicate a positive educational and language development of children with SLI after inpatient treatment in Germany. Over 90% of the participants finished school with a regular certification and most of them do not feel any speech and language limitations anymore.