The extent and experience of childhood speech impairment

The research undertaken through this doctoral research aimed to develop an understanding of their communication partners. Specifically, the research aimed to fulfil two objectives: 1) to investigate the association between childhood speech impairment and limitations to life activities, and 2) to understand the experience of living with childhood speech impairment. In order to fulfil these objectives, a series of reviews and research studies were conducted, the results of which have been published (or submitted for publication) in Australia and internationally. This doctoral research contains nine papers which present the reviews and research studies. The three review papers provide information about: (1) the prevalence of communication impairment in Australian children, (2) the theoretical framework used to guide the research (the ICF and ICF-CY), and (3) the application of the ICF-CY to children with speech impairment. The six subsequent research papers have unique aims and methodologies; however, all use the ICF and ICF-CY as a theoretical lens to provide an overarching perspective. The first three research papers present studies that investigate the association between speech impairment and limitations to life activities: (1) a systematic review of 57 research studies, (2) analysis of parents' (n=86) and SLPs' (n=205) responses to questionnaires about the impact of speech impairment on life activities and participation, and (3) analysis of child, parent and teacher reports from the nationally representative Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (n=4,329).