Applying ICF’s categories to the functional diagnosis of children with developmental challenges in speech or language. Polish adaptation of the SPAA-C questionnaires

Abstract

Children with speech sound disorders constitute a significant part of many speech-language pathology caseloads at (pre)schools. Traditionally, speech-language diagnosis with these children has mainly focused on the level of the disorder regarding body structures and functions from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF). In turn, qualitative-quantitative functional diagnosis, referring to the biopsychosocial model, aims to enhance the diagnosis scheme by considering the possible functions of a disorder in children’s everyday life. It means that it refers to the other components of the ICF's classification, which emphasizes the individuality and multidimensionality of each person's developmental path. The holistic diagnosis supports formulating adequate therapeutic goals to improve life quality. This article describes the polish adaptation of the SPAA-C questionaries considering the ICF classification's activity and participation components. The SPAA-C comprises six semi-structured interviews for children with developmental challenges in the area of speech or language, like speech sound disorder or developmental language disorder, as well as for their significant others. It was translated into polish using a forward and back translation procedure and then verified by the target recipients of this tool.