Objective: Evaluation of perceived subjective burden in mothers of speech-impaired children against the presence or absence of an emotional disorder. Methods: 89 mothers (age 33;3 ± 5;5 years, range: 19;6–43;8 years) of 89 preschool children (23 girls, 66 boys, age: 3;9 ± 1;5 years, range: 1;6– 7;1 years) with specific speech impairment were investigated. German versions of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Burden Scale for Family Caregivers (BSFC) were applied. Results: 11% of the mothers met criteria for a depressive disorder (normal controls: 2.5%; p = 0.008). Twenty-eight percent of the mothers met criteria for anxiety disorders (normal controls: 9.6%; p = 0.000). The HADS depression subscore and the BSFC correlate with r = 0.75. The HADS anxiety subscore and the BSFC correlate with r = 0.59. Conclusions: Results suggest the need for routine clinical assessment of mothers’ well-being when their children are affected by speech impairment.

Keywords:
Speech impairment, Depression, Anxiety, Subjective burden, Caregiving
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© 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel
2007
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