Abstract
Introduction
. Speech delay is one of the most common reasons for parents to seek medical advice from neurologists and speech therapists. Speech delay significantly affects the development of cognitive abilities and personality formation in children, as well as their subsequent social adaptation. According to speech therapy specialists T. Sunderajan and S. Kanhere (2019), in the absence of timely correction, speech delay may persist in 40–60 % of adolescents, increasing the risk of emotional, cognitive, and social difficulties. This emphasizes the relevance of non-pharmacological methods for restoring speech functions.
The aim of the study
: To evaluate the effectiveness of osteopathic correction of somatic dysfunctions in children aged 3–6 years with speech delay living in the mid- and high-altitude regions of Kyrgyzstan.
Materials and methods
. A prospective controlled randomized study was conducted at the Eurasian Center of Osteopathy (Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan). The study involved 60 children aged 3–6 years residing in mid- and high-altitude areas of Kyrgyzstan, diagnosed with functional speech delay confirmed by a speech therapist and pediatric neurologist. All children had preserved intelligence, no organic lesions of the central nervous system, and no contraindications to osteopathic treatment. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups: the main group (n=30) and the control group (n=30). Children in both groups underwent a corrective and educational program with a speech therapist. The main group additionally received osteopathic therapy once every 1–2 weeks, with a total of four sessions over two months.
Results
. The obtained results demonstrated a pronounced positive dynamic in children aged 3–6 years with speech delay living in the mid- and high-altitude regions of Kyrgyzstan in the main group after a course of osteopathic correction. A significant reduction in the severity of speech disorders was observed — from 21,4±0,3 to 4,9±0,8 points (pConclusion
. In children aged 3–6 years with speech delay living in the mid- and high-altitude regions of Kyrgyzstan, combined osteopathic and speech therapy led to a significant reduction in somatic dysfunctions, improvement of speech and cognitive functions, and an increase in quality of life.