SPEECH AND LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT USING LEST 0 TO 6 AMONG CHILDREN 0 TO 6 YEARS

Abstract

Speech and Language Assessment using LEST 0-6 among children aged 0 to 6 years". ABSTRACT: This descriptive study was conducted toassess the speech and language development anddelay among children 0-6 years.450 Children 0-6 years age groups were taken for the study. Each child was given the corresponding LEST and given a PASS if he or she had performed the test. Of the 450 children screened, 5.5 % had delay, 2.2 % had only questionable delay. Of the 25 children who had delay 15 (60%) were males. There is strong hazardous association between sex and speech delay. Statistical test also shows that there is association between speech Delay and Sex i.e., the result is highly Statistically Significant, (p< 0.005). Hence males have more speech Delay than Females. LEST-this simple validatedor standardized screening tool will be useful for professionals to give early intervention. The Statistical method used is Chi-Square test. This test can be extrapolated to the general population. This test-LEST has been validated byNair M.K.C et al. KEY WORDS: Speech delay, Language delay, LEST. INTRODUCTION: Life is not possible without exchanging thoughts, ideas, feelings and emotions. This exchange can be carried out with any form of language. Hence language as defined by Pei is "Sound produced by the human voice, received by the human ear and interpreted by the human brain". In the absence of a culturally appropriate, simple, language development screening tool for use in neuro-developmental Follow-up Clinic, LEST scale was developed. LEST is divided into LEST-(0-3) and extended LEST (3-6) years. Each contains items on the Receptive language development and expressive language development of children. 1 The present study was to find out the speech and language development among the children up to 6 years in a community setting. This study was done in an urban area of a city in Kerala using LEST (0-3 years) and LEST (3-6 years) which has been improvised by CDC Trivandrum.(LEST-Language Evaluation Scale Trivandrum).