Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE & COMMUNICATION DISORDERS, sa.2, 2025 (SCI-Expanded)
BackgroundOwing to the COVID-19 pandemic, speech-language therapists faced challenges in reaching children with developmental language disorders (DLDs) for a certain period. This unexpected change also had a profound impact on parents of children with DLDs. Despite its significance, there is limited research exploring the experiences of parents who were unable to consult with specialists and their perspectives on telepractice services.AimsThe primary objective of this study is to investigate the experiences of parents with children diagnosed with DLD (n = 5) related to accessing experts during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods and ProceduresPrior to the onset of pandemic-related closures, assessments for children with DLDs were conducted, and plans for initiating their therapies were in place. Parents of children who were unable to commence therapy were invited to participate in the study. Interpretative phenomenological analysis principles were employed to analyse the collected data.Outcomes and ResultsThe findings are analysed under four themes. Parents initially expressed the negative impact of being unable to reach experts, which led them to independently support their children's language development. Despite reservations about telepractice, parents were willing to participate. However, they reported feeling unprepared for the abrupt transition to telepractice, particularly regarding the technical requirements, which were limited in availability.Conclusions and ImplicationsMaintaining communication with parents, particularly during crisis periods, is crucial for children in need of speech and language therapy. Providing parents with information about the therapy process, their child's language disorder, and the potential use of telepractice is essential. This approach ensures that we can offer effective support for the children.