The ICF-CY and children with communication disabilities

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Children and Youth Version (ICF-CY) (World Health Organization, 2007) provides a relevant framework for consideration of children with communication disability by professionals such as speech-language pathologists and audiologists. This paper describes the international and interdisciplinary context in which the ICF-CY was created; then focuses on three major considerations in the development of the ICF-CY: the inclusion of universal perspectives on the rights of children, the need for adherence to the structure of the ICF and the specific issues regarding the use of qualifiers with children. The prevalence and incidence of children with communication and hearing disability is outlined and the literature relating to core sets of ICF-CY codes for children with communication disability is discussed. Next, the ICF-CY is applied to assessment and intervention practices of speech-language pathologists. To exemplify the status quo, the primary focus of 56 assessment tools and 22 intervention approaches for children with speech impairment is categorised using the ICF-CY. This analysis demonstrates speech-language pathologists' current emphasis on Body Functions when working with children with speech impairment. Finally, this paper presents a discussion of role of the ICF-CY in advocacy for children with communication disability.