Chiguru – School Screening

Screening refers to the process of identifying the presence of a problem. There are several screening procedures, which include use of high-risk registers, checklists, questionnaires, screening tests, etc. Through the preschool and school screening, it is feasible to identify children at risk for any speech, language, hearing or academic problems and also detect communication disorders in children. It is a part of secondary prevention wherein the condition is identified for any risk and then a detailed evaluation will confirm the diagnosis in order to carry out intervention and remedy as early as possible, thus, preventing the deterioration or worsening of the condition. Routine school screening programs will provide an estimate of the prevalence of communication disorders in the school-going population. The incidence and prevalence of any disorder estimated through surveys or school screening programs help to evaluate the problem of a disorder in a population and also facilitates the need for appropriate clinical services to these children.

Earlier studies on the western population reported that the prevalence of Speech-Language and hearing disorders have broad variability in the prevalence rates. The prevalence of communication disorders was found to be between 4.19% (De Andrade, 1997), and 13.0% (McLeod & McKinnon, 2007). The prevalence of speech disorder was 1.06% (McKinnon, McLeod & Reilly, 2007), 4.6% (Kirkpatrick & Ward, 1984), 2.3-24.6% (Law, Boyle, Harris, Harkness & Nye, 2000). Similarly, the prevalence of language disorders was found to be 2.02–19% (Law, Boyle, Harris, Harkness & Nye, 2000). Several western studies reported the prevalence of communication disorders in school going children but the incidence and prevalence rates are lacking in the Indian scenario.