2025-2026 Grant in Aid of Research
Investigating the Prevalence of Language Disorders among Primary School Children in Government and Government-Assisted Schools in East Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago: An Assessment of Teacher Awareness.
Tachica McCoy
Speech Language Pathology (SLP) is a profession that addresses major communication disarrays, including speech disorders, language disorders, voice disorders, swallowing disorders and social communication disorders. With the limited number of SLP professionals in the twin Islands of Trinidad and Tobago, many people have little knowledge regarding the various disorders and are unable to access or afford services. One of the disorders that largely experience oversight is that of language disorders. According to the American Speech Language and Hearing Association “A language disorder is impaired comprehension and/or use of spoken, written and/or other symbol systems” (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 1993). Language plays an integral part in our everyday life, therefore, when a child has a deficit in such, it hampers their social and academic success and can result in many psychosocial ills. This study serves the purpose of determining the prevalence of language disorders among primary school children in Trinidad and Tobago, while assessing the educator’s awareness.
The study would be conducted using mixed methods, which includes qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. Educators of the twenty government and government assisted schools in East Port of Spain will receive an invitation to participate in the study. Upon initial data analysis, a post-study intervention and post-study survey would be conducted. The findings of the pre and post study will serve to provide data on the prevalence and awareness of language disorders in the Islands. Additionally, the insight will be used to advocate for services for the target population, which can then contribute to the welfare of the students, and the social and economic development of the marginalized district of East Port of Spain.