TTLV: Communication characteristics of children with speech delays

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MASTER'S THESIS

1. Student's full name:Bui Thi Hau               

2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: February 5, 1990

4. Place of birth: Chau Giang – Duy Tien – Ha Nam

5. Decision No. 3215/2014/QD-XHNV-SDH, dated December 31, 2014, of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, recognizing the student.

6. Changes in the training process: None

7. Thesis title:Communication characteristics of children with speech delays.

8. Major: Psychology Code: 60.31.04.01

9. Scientific supervisor:Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thu HuongFaculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

10. Summary of the thesis results:

Based on theoretical research and the current situation of children with speech delays worldwide and in Vietnam, this study investigates the communication characteristics of children with speech delays in Hanoi. We have the following results:

Theoretically, a child's communication characteristics are reflected through: body language (body posture, facial expressions, eye contact, gestures, etc.), pictorial communication (writing, images, drawings, etc.), and spatial communication (objects used symbolically, etc.). Speech plays the most important role in pronunciation and expression during this communication process. For children with speech delays, communication characteristics are still reflected in these aspects; however, they have a serious deficiency in verbal communication during social interaction. Currently, we cannot precisely determine the causes of speech delays; however, the results of scientific studies show that speech delays are often accompanied by specific language deficiencies and are related to genetic factors, the family environment, and the learning environment.

In practical terms: Through studying four cases of children with speech delays, we discovered the following communication characteristics: reduced cognitive ability, limited use of language in communication, and the use of nonverbal communication such as pulling others' hands and expressing emotions through facial expressions to convey their needs. Subjective and objective factors affecting the communication process of children with speech delays include: a family history of parents with speech delays, a lack of close contact activities in the early years such as playing, laughing, and cuddling, a lack of exposure to the outside world, and the use of one-way communication (watching TV, iPads) for more than 5 hours a day. The practical results are based on two main methods: observation and clinical interviewing.

11. Practical applications:

The research findings of this thesis serve as a useful reference for educators, language therapists, and psychologists working with children with speech delays; based on this, appropriate intervention plans can be developed for each individual child with speech delays.

12. Future research directions:

If conditions and time permit, we will conduct further research into the factors influencing the communication process of children with speech delays in different regions of Vietnam.

13. Published works related to the thesis:

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name: Bui Thi Hau 2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: 05^thFebruary 19904. Place of birth: Chau Giang - Duy Tien - Ha Nam

5. Admission decision number: 3215/2014/QD-XHNV-SĐH on December 31, 2014 issued by Rector of University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi National University

6. Changes in academic process: None

7. Official thesis title: Characteristics of communication in Children with Speech Delay

8. Major: Psychology Code: 60.31.04.01

9. Supervisors: Associate Pro, Dr. Tran Thu Huong, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University – Hanoi.

10. Summary of the thesis's findings:

On the basis of theoretical and practical researches on children with delayed speech in the world and Vietnam, this project investigates the characteristics of communication among children with delayed speech in Hanoi city. We have the following results:

In theory: Features of children's communication are reflected in body language (posture, facial expression, eye contact, gestures, etc.), graphic communication (text, photographs, drawings, etc.) and spatial objects (symbolic objects, etc.). Words have the most important position in pronunciation and expression in this communication process. For children with speech delay, these communication characteristics are still detectable, but they have serious shortcomings in using verbal communication during social interactions. Currently, we have not determined the exact cause of speech delay, however, the results of scientific research suggest that slow to speak is often accompanied with specific deficits in language, genetic factors, family environment and learning environment.

Practically, after examining the case study of four children with speech delay, we discovered that communication characteristics among these children include: cognitive deficiency, limited use of language in communication, popular use of non-verbal communication such as dragging someone's arm, facial expressions to express one's demand. Several objective and subjective factors that influence communication of children with speech impairment are parents' history of speech development issues, limited intimate interactions in early childhood, lack of social interactions, one way communications such as watching TV, IPad more than 5 hours/day. These results were based on two main methods: observation and clinical interview.

11. Practical applicability:

The results of this thesis will be useful references for those who do the teaching, the work of intervention, speech therapy, psychology of children with speech impairment. On that basis, we can develop intervention plans that fit each individual child with speech delay.

12. Further research directions:

If times and conditions allow, we will conduct the research more intensively, examining the impacts of communication process to the speech developmental delays among young children from different areas of Vietnam.

13. Thesis-related publications