Background and aims A high rate of children in mental health services have poor language skills, but little evidence exists on how mental health support is delivered to and received by children with language needs. This study looked at parental experiences, asking parents of children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) about their experiences seeking help for their children's mental health. We were particularly interested on the experiences of parents of children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), a specific SLCN that remains relatively unknown to the general public. Methods We conducted an online survey of 74 parents of children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). Survey respondents included parents of children with a range of difficulties, including DLD, autism, verbal dyspraxia, global intellectual delay, a history of hearing problems, and SLCN without a primary diagnosis. Survey respondents were asked what sources of support they had accessed for their child's mental health and to provide comments on what was good and what was not good about this support. We then conducted 9 semi-structured interviews of parents of children with DLD about their experiences. These were parents of children with DLD aged 7 to 17 years, from across a range of educational settings, and with a range of present mental health concerns. Results Content analyses of the survey responses from parents of children with SLCN highlighted three broad factors of importance to parents’ experiences: relational aspects of care, organisational aspects of care, and professionals’ knowledge. Thematic analyses of the interviews of parents of children with DLD identified 5 themes: the effects of language problems on the presentation of distress; the role of the school environment; the role of key professionals; standard approaches to mental health support might not be appropriate; and the role and impact on parents. Parents expressed concerns that their children's mental health problems and need for support would not be recognised, and felt interventions were not accessible, or delivered in a manner that was not comfortable for their children due to high reliance on oral language skills. Some parents were left feeling that there was no provision suitable for their children. Conclusions Parents of children with SLCN face barriers accessing support for their children's mental health, including a lack of professional knowledge about their children's language needs. Parents argued that language and communication needs can significantly affect the delivery and success of psychological therapies and interventions. Systematic research is needed to understand how to successfully adapt services to make them accessible to children and young people with language needs, and to ensure that mental health problems are detected in children with language difficulties. Increased knowledge about language disorders such as DLD, and access to speech and language therapy expertise, is needed amongst professionals who work to support children's mental health.

中文翻译：

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支持有言语、语言和交流需求的儿童的心理健康：父母的观点和经验

背景和目标 接受心理健康服务的儿童语言技能较差，但很少有证据表明有语言需求的儿童如何提供和接受心理健康支持。这项研究着眼于父母的经历，询问有言语、语言和交流需求（SLCN）儿童的父母他们为孩子的心理健康寻求帮助的经历。我们对发育性语言障碍 (DLD) 儿童父母的经历特别感兴趣，这是一种特定的 SLCN，公众相对不为人知。方法 我们对 74 名有言语、语言和交流需求（SLCN）儿童的家长进行了在线调查。调查对象包括有一系列困难儿童的父母，包括 DLD、自闭症、言语障碍、整体智力迟缓、听力问题史和没有初步诊断的 SLCN。调查受访者被问及他们为孩子的心理健康获得了哪些支持，并就这种支持的好处和坏处发表评论。然后，我们对 DLD 儿童的父母进行了 9 次半结构化访谈，了解他们的经历。这些是 7 至 17 岁患有 DLD 的儿童的父母，他们来自各种教育环境，并且目前存在一系列心理健康问题。结果 对 SLCN 患儿父母的调查答复的内容分析强调了对父母经验具有重要意义的三大因素：照料的关系方面、照料的组织方面和专业人员的知识。对 DLD 儿童家长访谈的主题分析确定了 5 个主题：语言问题对痛苦表现的影响；学校环境的作用；关键专业人员的作用；心理健康支持的标准方法可能不合适；以及对父母的作用和影响。家长们表示担心他们的孩子的心理健康问题和对支持的需求不会得到承认，并且由于高度依赖口语技能，他们认为干预措施无法获得，或者以对孩子来说不舒服的方式提供。一些父母觉得没有适合他们孩子的供应。结论 SLCN 儿童的父母在获得儿童心理健康支持方面面临障碍，包括对孩子的语言需求缺乏专业知识。家长们认为，语言和交流需求会显着影响心理治疗和干预的实施和成功。需要进行系统研究，以了解如何成功调整服务，使有语言需求的儿童和青少年能够获得服务，并确保发现有语言障碍的儿童的心理健康问题。致力于支持儿童心理健康的专业人员需要增加对语言障碍（如 DLD）的了解，以及获得言语和语言治疗专业知识。家长们认为，语言和交流需求会显着影响心理治疗和干预的实施和成功。需要进行系统研究，以了解如何成功调整服务，使有语言需求的儿童和青少年能够获得服务，并确保发现有语言障碍的儿童的心理健康问题。致力于支持儿童心理健康的专业人员需要增加对语言障碍（如 DLD）的了解，以及获得言语和语言治疗专业知识。家长们认为，语言和交流需求会显着影响心理治疗和干预的实施和成功。需要进行系统研究，以了解如何成功调整服务，使有语言需求的儿童和青少年能够获得服务，并确保发现有语言障碍的儿童的心理健康问题。致力于支持儿童心理健康的专业人员需要增加对语言障碍（如 DLD）的了解，以及获得言语和语言治疗专业知识。