Parents` Knowledge of Speech Development and Its Influence on Seeking Intervention

This study aimed to assess parents` knowledge about their children`s speech development and acquisition. The literature on Brazilian Portuguese indicates that the acquisition of the phonological system occurs gradually until approximately five years of age. However, many children exhibit difficulties before this age, leading parents to seek professional help. The research was conducted through an online questionnaire applied to parents of children on the waiting list for treatment at the university’s speech-language pathology clinic. The questionnaire contained questions about their children`s speech development. The sample consisted of 48 responses, referring to children aged between 4 and 9 years, whose parents reported speech difficulties as the main complaint. The results indicated that parents have a good understanding of speech development and can identify difficulties that should have already been overcome. Specifically, a delay in the acquisition of voiceless and voiced alveopalatal fricatives was observed, as these sounds should have already been acquired given the children`s ages. Additionally, the greatest difficulty reported by parents was related to the acquisition of the syllabic structure of the complex onset. It is concluded that parents` knowledge about speech acquisition plays a positive role in the early identification of difficulties and in seeking speech-language intervention. This factor enables the implementation of therapy at early stages of development, helping to minimize the impact of communication difficulties in children.