The Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge) has reported a troubling increase in communication disorders among children, leading health officials to call for urgent measures to address this growing issue.
Children with communication disorders struggle with interactions and may have difficulties understanding or producing speech sounds. Doctors at the Paediatric and Neo-Development Clinic at the hospital have noted a dramatic 40% rise in communication disorders this year alone.
Dr. Yvonne Brew, Head of the Clinic, highlighted that 80% of the affected children are boys. “Communication disorders previously accounted for about 10% of the cases I was seeing. However, by June of this year, nearly 50% of the children I’ve encountered have communication disorders, with a significant prevalence among boys,” she said.
Dr. Brew attributes the increase to the rising addiction to electronic devices among children and urges parents to be vigilant for any signs of communication difficulties and to seek medical help promptly.
Dr. Eunice Rabiatu Abdulai, Head of the ENT Unit at the Institutional Care Division of the Ghana Health Service, has called for comprehensive baseline investigations to understand and manage this trend effectively. She suggests that having an audiologist in every region, establishing speech therapy centers, and enhancing the capacity of health workers could significantly improve primary health care and awareness.
“Further investigation is needed to address this issue effectively. With more resources and trained professionals, we can better manage and educate on communication disorders,” she said.
In the meantime, some parents are urging authorities to increase educational efforts, particularly during pregnancy, to help prevent and address communication disorders.