Int J Lang Commun Disord. 2026 May-Jun;61(3):e70263. doi: 10.1111/1460-6984.70263.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Effective support for children’s speech, language, and communication development is essential to prevent long-term negative outcomes. Parental behaviours play a critical role in whether children are referred to and receive speech-language therapy.
AIMS: This study aimed to identify predictors of parents receiving Speech-language Therapy using longitudinal data from Growing Up in New Zealand.
METHOD: Data were drawn from the Growing Up in New Zealand study, which is representative of the national child population. The analysis focused on children with reported speech concerns by age 54 months (N = 771). The primary outcome was whether speech-language therapy had been received for speech concerns by that age.
RESULTS: Logistic regression showed children had significantly higher odds of receiving speech-language therapy if their mothers experienced low socioeconomic deprivation during pregnancy (OR = 2.31, p < 0.01) and if family doctors were perceived as highly helpful when the child was nine months old (OR = 3.77, p < 0.05). In contrast, children whose mothers identified Māori as their prioritised ethnicity were significantly less likely to receive speech-language therapy than those identifying as European/Pākehā (OR = 0.40, p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION: Findings highlight persistent ethnic and social inequities in access to speech-language therapy in New Zealand. Parental information-seeking may play a role but requires further research. These results support the need for targeted policies and early engagement strategies to ensure equitable receipt of speech-language therapy for children with speech, language, and communication needs.
WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on this subject Less than half of children with speech concerns receive speech-language therapy. Socio-economic and ethnic disparities are known to contribute to this gap. However, the specific factors influencing access to speech-language therapy, and the role of healthcare providers in supporting service uptake, are not well understood. What this study adds to the existing knowledge This study identifies key factors associated with non-receipt of speech-language therapy, including socio-economic deprivation, ethnicity, and perceived helpfulness of support. It underscores the important role of healthcare providers in early identification and in improving access to speech-language therapy services for children in at-risk groups. What are the actual clinical implications of this work? The findings highlight the need for targeted strategies to overcome barriers to speech-language therapy access. Strengthening collaboration between healthcare providers, such as general practitioners and early childhood professionals, may improve early intervention and service uptake among underserved populations.
PMID:42175668 | DOI:10.1111/1460-6984.70263
