PREVALENCE OF SPEECH AND LANGUAGE DISORDERS IN A MENTAL-ILLNESS UNIT

A survey was conducted to investigate the prevalence of speech and lan guage problems in people receiving care from the Mental Health Unit of a District Health Authority. A screening assessment was devised with the aim of detecting difficulties with receptive and expressive langua ge, voice, articulation and fluency, by rise of modified standardised tests and subjective ratings. All in-patients who had been in hospital for longer than six months were screened, as were all day patients at tending the Integrated Rehabilitation Workshop in the hospital grounds and a random sample of patients attending two day centres in the comm unity. Results showed that moderate or severe difficulties in at least one aspect of speech and language was present in over two-thirds of t he 138 people assessed. The most common problems occurred in the tests of comprehension and naming. A quarter of those assessed had problems with spontaneous speech. Problems with voice, articulation and fluenc y were less com,non. The limitations on the information obtained due t o the nature of the population considered and the assessment procedure , and the implications of the findings for the management of patients are discussed.