The Social Status of Speech-Handicapped Children

Abstract

This study investigated: (1) the relative social position of third grade speech-handicapped children as perceived by their peers and teachers, and (2) attitudes of parents of normal-speaking and speech-handicapped children toward individuals with oral communicative disorders. The study population was comprised of 197 public school third grade children, their teachers, and their parents. The social status of the speech-handicapped tended to be lower than that of the normal-speaking children in certain interpersonal relationships. The parents' questionnaires revealed that mothers of normal-speaking children did not differ greatly in attitude toward speech disorders than mothers of speech-handicapped children.