地域の療育センターの立場から

Speech-language-hearing therapists and children with disabilities : The viewpoint of a regional rehabilitation center

　北九州市立総合療育センターの過去約20年間(1985～2005年)の受診児の動向を調査した．少子化が進む中，療育センターの初診児数はむしろ増加傾向にあった．年齢分布は出生時・乳幼児期から学齢期まであり，発達段階に即した幅広い支援が求められていた．遠隔地からの受診は減少する傾向にあり，地域の療育環境が整備されてきていることが推察された．初診時の主な問題として，発達障害の疑われる子どもが増加する傾向を認めた．

　このような動向の中で総合療育センターの言語聴覚士に求められる支援のあり方も多様なものとなってきている．支援のあり方の具体例として，①医師による障害告知後の家族支援，②家族会とピア・カウンセラーの組織化，③通園施設に対する支援，④言語の通級指導教室に対する支援を報告した．

　以上より，言語聴覚士には，生活モデルの視点から，対象を子どものコミュニケーション環境全体へと拡大するニーズがあることを強調した．

　A survey was made on the trends among children with disabilities who had received treatment at the Kita-Kyusyu Rehabilitation Center during the period of 1985～2005.　The number of children who received the first examination at the center increased in spite of the recent decline in the birth rate.　The children's ages ranged from newborn to school age.　As could be expected with this age range, a wide variety of support appropriate for each stage of development was called for.　The number of children who came from a distant place decreased, suggesting that the care and educational environment for children with disabilities in many regions had gradually improved.　One of the significant findings regarding the first examination was the increase in the number of children suspected of having developmental disorders.　Under these circumstances, the kinds of support requested from speech-language-hearing therapists of the center were very varied.　As examples for such support, we describe in this report:1) supporting children and families notified of disabilities by their doctor, 2) organizing family meetings and peer counselors, 3) supporting day care facilities for children with disabilities, and 4) supporting school resource rooms for children with speech-language disabilities.　From the viewpoint of the life model, speech-language-hearing therapists should pay attention to and work with the whole communication environment of children.