An analysis of language and speech disorders in preschool children in Turkey: The case of Beypazarı

Abstract

The children with early language and speech delay have the risk to face with learning disabilities as well as psychological and behavioral adjustment problems in the preschool period. The aim of this study to analyse the language and speech disoders in the children aged between 3 and 6 years who attend kindergarden. 503 children who attend the kindergarden were determined in Beypazarı. However, 101 children were out of study for various reasons (N:402). The implementation of the study consists of two stages. In the first stage, the language and speech development of the children was questioned. The Turkish Preschool Language Scale-5 (TPLS-5) test was administered to the risky children in the second stage. A moderate (0,30 <0,70), positive (r>0) and a significant correlation (p<0,05)   was found between their chronological age and their receptive language age. A high level (0,70 0) and significant correlation (p<0,01) was found between the chronological and expressive language of the children. The language and speech disorder has an important potential negative effect on families and societies both in the short and the long term. For this reason, it is quite important to follow the language and speech development of children closely in the preschool period.