THE EFFECTS OF THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PANDEMIC ON CHILDREN WITH SPEECH AND LANGUAGE DISORDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

Abstract

Objective: The aim is to determine the effects of the covid-19 pandemic on the functions and psychosocial conditions of children with speech and language disorders and their families. Material-Metod: Within the scope of the study, a questionnaire form created by the researchers through "Google Forms" was applied online to 70 families with speech and language disorders and 30 families with healthy children, feedback was obtained from the families of 100 children. In the questionnaire form applied to the families; before and during the covid-19 pandemic, there are questions about families' quality time with their children, daily life activities, emotional and anxiety situations. Study data were collected between June-July 2020. Results: Spending quality time with their families before the pandemic was significantly higher in the group with speech and language disorders compared to the families of the healthy group (p <0.05). During the pandemic, an increase in the use of television, tablets and computers was observed in the majority of children in both groups. In addition, families in both groups were found to have moderate/high levels of fear of transmission of the covid-19 virus to one of their families. Conclusion: It has been observed that the function and psycho-social impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on children with speech and language disorders and their families is similar to healthy children and their families. In particular, it has been observed that all families experience intense fear of transmission of the disease during this epidemic process, also have high levels of anxiety about future.