Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) encompass a wide spectrum of symptoms and levels of impairment in the social, communicative and behavioural domains. [1] There has been limited research with a focus on interprofessional collaboration regarding ASDs in the local context. The intention of the present research was to develop a support programme that would allow registered nurses in primary healthcare (PHC) to identify the characteristics of children with ASDs and to recognise possible risk factors. This practice would allow nurses to refer such children to appropriate healthcare services, and to provide parents with essential information when there is reason for concern. PHC is the first level of contact between the general population and the health system. [2] Patients are referred to healthcare services at secondary and tertiary hospitals. [3] Nurses in PHC often have to consult with the families of children with disabilities. [4] As registered nurses interact with mothers about the welfare of their children, and become aware of their concerns, they require unique knowledge, competencies and skills. [3] It is therefore important that nurses in PHC are made aware of the characteristics and risk factors associated with ASDs (e.g. social, communicative and behavioural problems, and learning characteristics) in order for them to refer children as soon as possible. [5] Early diagnosis provides an opportunity for early intervention, which improves the prognosis of the child in terms of linguistic, cognitive, social and motor abilities. [6] In rural contexts, ASDs are often only diagnosed many years after the onset of symptoms, or misdiagnosed, possibly as a result of a lack of knowledge. [7] Awareness and knowledge of autism is very limited among healthcare workers in sub-Saharan African countries; [6] early diagnosis and intervention occur more often in developed countries. [8] Because of this situation, the diagnosis and detection of ASDs often occurs too late. Valuable time is lost in which intervention and education could have occurred. In some African countries, the proportion of children with ASDs receiving an education can be as low as 1-3%. [9] Early identification is crucial for the development, education and functioning of the child, and should occur before the age of 3. [10] Registered nurses in PHC clinics spend most of their time treating and diagnosing common childhood diseases (e.g. diarrhoea, nutritional deficits, HIV/AIDS) that are related to the national burdens of disease, and are less focused on behavioural difficulties in young children. [3] In addition, registered nurses receive limited information on the topic of ASDs in their professional training. Lack of knowledge about ASDs presents barriers to early identification of and intervention for such children. [5] Previous research has shown that there is a critical need to train healthcare workers in recognising ASDs, especially in underserved communities. [7,11] Early intervention can significantly improve the quality of life of children with ASDs [3] and prevent further delays. [10] Registered nurses should be supported in order to become familiar with the characteristics and risk factors associated with ASDs, and to understand the impact of ASDs on children and their families. Signs of ASDs often appear at the age of 12-18 months. [12] Children are usually seen at clinics at regular intervals (6, 12, 18, 24 and 30 months) for immunisation, and on such occasions parents may want to discuss their concerns with the nurse. It is important that registered Background. Registered nurses in South Africa often work in community clinics in primary healthcare (PHC), where they are first in line to be consulted by families with children with disabilities. There has been limited research with a focus on interprofessional collaboration regarding autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in the local context. A support programme was developed to inform registered nurses in PHC of the symptoms and characteristics of ASDs in order to increase the number of referrals to specialists for early diagnosis. Objectives. To determine the effectiveness of a support programme for registered nurses in PHC clinics, and to raise awareness of ASDs. Methods. Two PHC clinics in a semirural area in Gauteng Province, SA, were included in the study, in which 10 registered nurses participated. A descriptive, quantitative approach was used, and data were collected by means of self-administered questionnaires. Results. The results confirmed that the support was effective, as participants showed an increase in knowledge and understanding of ASDs. Poor attendance and the limited sample size affected the outcomes. Conclusion. A multidisciplinary approach to the early identification and referral of children with possible ASDs is important to improve the quality of life of these children and prevent further delays. Speech-language therapists should provide support to registered nurses in PHC, and training should be repeated on a continual basis to facilitate long-term retention and to accommodate shift changes within clinics.

Background Age-Related Hearing Loss (ARHL) is the most widespread sensory disorder in the elderly. Poor audiological support within retirement homes is one of the fundamental issues impacting the Quality of Life (QoL). Objectives The objectives of this study were to: (1) Identify the presence of hearing impairment through a hearing screening test battery in a sample of elderly participants residing in three retirement homes. (2) Determine the psychological, communication-related and social impact of the hearing impairment on the QoL in a sample of elderly participants residing in retirement homes. Method A prospective cross-sectional research design with quantitative methods of data analysis was used to obtain data from 70 elderly participants (mean age = 79 years, 79% were female). Ten of them used hearing aids. Hearing screening was conducted using otoscopy, tympanometry and air conduction screening (500 Hz–4 kHz). The World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQoL) questionnai...

Prevalence figures on ADHD in South Africa (SA) are sparse, and even more so for Grade R learners. For school-aged learners, including Grade R learners, the prevalence has been reported to range Background: Preschool learners with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may develop problems with emergent literacy and more explicitly, phonological awareness necessary for the development of reading and writing. A need for support of Grade R teachers in inclusive schools was identified, and a programme developed. Aim: The main aim of this article is to report on the outcomes of a support programme for Grade R teachers on ADHD in two contexts within a specific school district. Setting: Participants were recruited from urban schools and township schools in a semi-rural context of a specific school district in Tshwane. Methods: The outcomes of this support programme was determined from data obtained with self-constructed questionnaires, which consisted of mainly closed-ended questions, supported by a limited number of open-ended questions. The quantitative data was statistically analysed and described, whereas the qualitative data was described through inductive analyses. Participants consisted of 44 teachers from semi-rural and 21 from urban, inclusive schools who attended the training workshops. Results: The results of the training indicated that urban teachers demonstrated better overall knowledge before the training. The post-training results indicated no statistically significant differences in knowledge after the training. Both groups benefitted from the programme. The rural participants showed more improvement as a result of the training. Conclusion: The participants from semi-rural schools benefitted more from the training, emphasising underlying inequalities in the education levels of the two groups. This research provided a starting point and needs to be expanded to facilitate Grade R teachers' awareness and knowledge of ADHD.

Background Age-Related Hearing Loss (ARHL) is the most widespread sensory disorder in the elderly. Poor audiological support within retirement homes is one of the fundamental issues impacting the Quality of Life (QoL). Objectives The objectives of this study were to: (1) Identify the presence of hearing impairment through a hearing screening test battery in a sample of elderly participants residing in three retirement homes. (2) Determine the psychological, communication-related and social impact of the hearing impairment on the QoL in a sample of elderly participants residing in retirement homes. Method A prospective cross-sectional research design with quantitative methods of data analysis was used to obtain data from 70 elderly participants (mean age = 79 years, 79% were female). Ten of them used hearing aids. Hearing screening was conducted using otoscopy, tympanometry and air conduction screening (500 Hz–4 kHz). The World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQoL) questionnai...

Prevalence figures on ADHD in South Africa (SA) are sparse, and even more so for Grade R learners. For school-aged learners, including Grade R learners, the prevalence has been reported to range Background: Preschool learners with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may develop problems with emergent literacy and more explicitly, phonological awareness necessary for the development of reading and writing. A need for support of Grade R teachers in inclusive schools was identified, and a programme developed. Aim: The main aim of this article is to report on the outcomes of a support programme for Grade R teachers on ADHD in two contexts within a specific school district. Setting: Participants were recruited from urban schools and township schools in a semi-rural context of a specific school district in Tshwane. Methods: The outcomes of this support programme was determined from data obtained with self-constructed questionnaires, which consisted of mainly closed-ended questions, supported by a limited number of open-ended questions. The quantitative data was statistically analysed and described, whereas the qualitative data was described through inductive analyses. Participants consisted of 44 teachers from semi-rural and 21 from urban, inclusive schools who attended the training workshops. Results: The results of the training indicated that urban teachers demonstrated better overall knowledge before the training. The post-training results indicated no statistically significant differences in knowledge after the training. Both groups benefitted from the programme. The rural participants showed more improvement as a result of the training. Conclusion: The participants from semi-rural schools benefitted more from the training, emphasising underlying inequalities in the education levels of the two groups. This research provided a starting point and needs to be expanded to facilitate Grade R teachers' awareness and knowledge of ADHD.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) encompass a wide spectrum of symptoms and levels of impairment in the social, communicative and behavioural domains. [1] There has been limited research with a focus on interprofessional collaboration regarding ASDs in the local context. The intention of the present research was to develop a support programme that would allow registered nurses in primary healthcare (PHC) to identify the characteristics of children with ASDs and to recognise possible risk factors. This practice would allow nurses to refer such children to appropriate healthcare services, and to provide parents with essential information when there is reason for concern. PHC is the first level of contact between the general population and the health system. [2] Patients are referred to healthcare services at secondary and tertiary hospitals. [3] Nurses in PHC often have to consult with the families of children with disabilities. [4] As registered nurses interact with mothers about the welfare of their children, and become aware of their concerns, they require unique knowledge, competencies and skills. [3] It is therefore important that nurses in PHC are made aware of the characteristics and risk factors associated with ASDs (e.g. social, communicative and behavioural problems, and learning characteristics) in order for them to refer children as soon as possible. [5] Early diagnosis provides an opportunity for early intervention, which improves the prognosis of the child in terms of linguistic, cognitive, social and motor abilities. [6] In rural contexts, ASDs are often only diagnosed many years after the onset of symptoms, or misdiagnosed, possibly as a result of a lack of knowledge. [7] Awareness and knowledge of autism is very limited among healthcare workers in sub-Saharan African countries; [6] early diagnosis and intervention occur more often in developed countries. [8] Because of this situation, the diagnosis and detection of ASDs often occurs too late. Valuable time is lost in which intervention and education could have occurred. In some African countries, the proportion of children with ASDs receiving an education can be as low as 1-3%. [9] Early identification is crucial for the development, education and functioning of the child, and should occur before the age of 3. [10] Registered nurses in PHC clinics spend most of their time treating and diagnosing common childhood diseases (e.g. diarrhoea, nutritional deficits, HIV/AIDS) that are related to the national burdens of disease, and are less focused on behavioural difficulties in young children. [3] In addition, registered nurses receive limited information on the topic of ASDs in their professional training. Lack of knowledge about ASDs presents barriers to early identification of and intervention for such children. [5] Previous research has shown that there is a critical need to train healthcare workers in recognising ASDs, especially in underserved communities. [7,11] Early intervention can significantly improve the quality of life of children with ASDs [3] and prevent further delays. [10] Registered nurses should be supported in order to become familiar with the characteristics and risk factors associated with ASDs, and to understand the impact of ASDs on children and their families. Signs of ASDs often appear at the age of 12-18 months. [12] Children are usually seen at clinics at regular intervals (6, 12, 18, 24 and 30 months) for immunisation, and on such occasions parents may want to discuss their concerns with the nurse. It is important that registered Background. Registered nurses in South Africa often work in community clinics in primary healthcare (PHC), where they are first in line to be consulted by families with children with disabilities. There has been limited research with a focus on interprofessional collaboration regarding autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in the local context. A support programme was developed to inform registered nurses in PHC of the symptoms and characteristics of ASDs in order to increase the number of referrals to specialists for early diagnosis. Objectives. To determine the effectiveness of a support programme for registered nurses in PHC clinics, and to raise awareness of ASDs. Methods. Two PHC clinics in a semirural area in Gauteng Province, SA, were included in the study, in which 10 registered nurses participated. A descriptive, quantitative approach was used, and data were collected by means of self-administered questionnaires. Results. The results confirmed that the support was effective, as participants showed an increase in knowledge and understanding of ASDs. Poor attendance and the limited sample size affected the outcomes. Conclusion. A multidisciplinary approach to the early identification and referral of children with possible ASDs is important to improve the quality of life of these children and prevent further delays. Speech-language therapists should provide support to registered nurses in PHC, and training should be repeated on a continual basis to facilitate long-term retention and to accommodate shift changes within clinics.

Background: Research on aspects of neurodevelopment such as feeding and swallowing difficulties in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is limited in low and middle income countries such as South Africa. Method: A descriptive comparative group design was used to investigate feeding and swallowing difficulties of young children with ASD in comparison to typically developing peers. The Brief Autism Mealtime Behavioural Inventory (BAMBI) was used. Results: Findings indicated a significant difference in the severity of feeding and swallowing difficulties between the two groups. Difficulties such as food selectivity, sensory processing difficulties, oral-motor difficulties and symptoms of dysphagia were iden- tified. The findings added to the existing global literature on feeding and swallowing difficulties in young children with ASD but provide a unique first perspective on these difficulties in South African children with ASD. Conclusion: Findings also highlighted the use of t...

Autism was previously regarded as a disorder that mostly occurred in well-resourced countries that are technologically advanced (Bakare et al. 2015). One in every 54 individuals globally presents with autism (Kuo 2022). However, in sub-Saharan African countries, population-based prevalence studies are absent (Franz et al. 2018). Using the United States' prevalence ratio as a point of reference, an estimated 270 000 people in South Africa might have autism. This might indicate a rise in autism in the last two decades in low-and lower-middle-income countries (Ruparelia et al. 2016). Ruparelia et al. (2016) stated that research from sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa, is limited. Scanty studies indicate low awareness and a lack of general knowledge on autism and associated conditions. Insufficient understanding of the incidence and prevalence among healthcare practitioners in sub-Saharan African countries, including the South African context among healthcare practitioners, was also noticed. This might impact the diagnosis and intervention of individuals with autism and has far-reaching consequences for service delivery (Franz et al. 2018; May et al. 2017). Background: Autism is a significant concern because of the increase in the prevalence of the disorder. University healthcare students might not all be adequately prepared to serve autistic individuals. Hence, there is a need in the South African context for information on healthcare practitioners' knowledge of general aspects, diagnosis and management of autism. Aim: To determine current knowledge on autism among speech-language pathology and audiology (SLP & A) students at a South African Higher Education Institution.