Prevalence of speech and language disorders in a mental illness unit

A survey was conducted to investigate the prevalence of speech and language problems in people receiving care from the Mental Health Unit of a District Health Authority. A screening assessment was devised with the aim of detecting difficulties with receptive and expressive language, voice, articulation and fluency, by use of modified standardised tests and subjective ratings. All in-patients who had been in hospital for longer than six months were screened, as were all day patients attending the Integrated Rehabilitation Workshop in the hospital grounds and a random sample of patients attending two day centres in the community. Results showed that moderate or severe difficulties in at least one aspect of speech and language was present in over two-thirds of the 138 people assessed. The most common problems occurred in the tests of comprehension and naming. A quarter of those assessed had problems with spontaneous speech. Problems with voice, articulation and fluency were less common. The limitations on the information obtained due to the nature of the population considered and the assessment procedure, and the implications of the findings for the management of patients are discussed.