Speech and Language Therapy for Communication Delays in Children with Genetic Disorders: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Communication disorders in children with genetic abnormalities significantly affect their social interaction, language development, and academic performance. These impairments, often stemming from neurodevelopmental disruptions, necessitate targeted interventions such as Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) to support their communication skills. This systematic review evaluates the effectiveness of speech therapy on verbal communication abilities in children with genetic disorders. A systematic search was conducted across seven databases—PubMed, ProQuest, Garuda, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, CNKI, and Wiley—covering studies published from 2020 to 2025. Eligible studies involved children with genetic disorders receiving speech-language therapy interventions. The PROMPT (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets) method was among the approaches assessed. Verbal communication outcomes were measured using tools such as the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test. Study selection followed PRISMA guidelines, and quality was appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD420250645279). Seven studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing 218 participants. Most interventions reported improvements in verbal communication. The PROMPT method, delivered in 30–60-minute sessions over 10 weeks, demonstrated significant effectiveness, especially in randomized controlled trials. Speech-language therapy, particularly using the PROMPT method, is effective in enhancing verbal communication in children with genetic disorders. These findings support the integration of structured, evidence-based speech interventions into early rehabilitation programs to improve communication outcomes.

Keywords

• autism
• communication delays
• genetic disorders
• speech theraphy

Genetik Bozukluğu Olan Çocuklarda İletişim Gecikmeleri İçin Konuşma ve Dil Terapisi: Sistematik Bir Derleme

Abstract

İletişim bozuklukları, genetik anomalilere sahip çocuklarda sosyal etkileşim, dil gelişimi ve akademik başarı üzerinde önemli derecede olumsuz etkilere yol açmaktadır. Bu tür bozukluklar genellikle nörogelişimsel aksaklıklardan kaynaklanmakta olup, çocukların iletişim becerilerini desteklemek amacıyla hedefe yönelik müdahalelerin uygulanmasını gerekli kılmaktadır. Bu sistematik derleme, genetik bozukluğu bulunan çocuklarda konuşma ve dil terapisinin sözel iletişim becerileri üzerindeki etkililiğini değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Bu doğrultuda, 2020 ile 2025 yılları arasında yayımlanmış çalışmalar PubMed, ProQuest, Garuda, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, CNKI ve Wiley olmak üzere yedi farklı veritabanında sistematik olarak taranmıştır. Uygunluk kriterleri, genetik bozukluğu olan çocuklara yönelik konuşma ve dil terapisi müdahalelerini içeren çalışmaları kapsamaktadır. Değerlendirilen yaklaşımlar arasında, oral motor hedefleri yeniden yapılandırmaya yönelik ipuçları sağlayan PROMPT (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets) yöntemi de yer almaktadır. Sözel iletişim çıktıları, Peabody Resimli Kelime Testi gibi standartlaştırılmış ölçme araçlarıyla değerlendirilmiştir. Çalışma seçimi PRISMA yönergelerine uygun şekilde gerçekleştirilmiş, metodolojik kalite değerlendirmesi ise Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) kontrol listesi aracılığıyla yapılmıştır. Sistematik derleme protokolü PROSPERO veri tabanına CRD420250645279 numarasıyla kaydedilmiştir. Belirlenen yedi çalışma uygunluk kriterlerini karşılamış olup, toplamda 218 katılımcıdan elde edilen veriler analiz edilmiştir. Müdahalelerin çoğu, çocukların sözel iletişim becerilerinde olumlu gelişmeler bildirmiştir. Özellikle, 10 hafta süresince haftada bir uygulanan 30–60 dakikalık seanslardan oluşan PROMPT yöntemi, randomize kontrollü çalışmalarda istatistiksel olarak anlamlı etkililik göstermiştir. Elde edilen bulgular, konuşma ve dil terapisinin –özellikle PROMPT yönteminin– genetik bozukluğu olan çocukların sözel iletişim becerilerini geliştirmede etkili olduğunu göstermektedir. Bu sonuçlar, yapılandırılmış ve kanıta dayalı konuşma terapisi yaklaşımlarının erken dönem rehabilitasyon programlarına entegre edilmesini desteklemekte ve iletişim sonuçlarını iyileştirme potansiyelini ortaya koymaktadır.

Keywords

• Otizm
• İletişim Gecikmeleri
• Genetik Bozukluklar
• Konuşma Terapisi

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