Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 May 23;12(6):671.
doi: 10.3390/children12060671.

Delivery of Pediatric Student-Led Speech and Language Therapy Services at a University Rehabilitation Clinic in Cyprus: Children Accessing Services

Theodora Papastefanou  1 , Paris Binos  1   2 , Despo Minaidou  1 , Kakia Petinou  1 , Costas A Christophi  1 , Eleni Theodorou  1
Affiliations

Delivery of Pediatric Student-Led Speech and Language Therapy Services at a University Rehabilitation Clinic in Cyprus: Children Accessing Services

Theodora Papastefanou et al. Children (Basel). .

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Early identification and intervention in speech and language therapy (SLT) are essential for children's academic, social, and emotional development. In Cyprus, barriers such as long waiting lists, financial constraints, and limited public awareness restrict access to SLT services. University-led clinics offer a promising alternative by providing affordable, accessible care while training future clinicians. This study aimed to examine the demographic profiles, referral pathways, and diagnostic patterns of children accessing services at a university-led SLT clinic. By documenting referral trends and diagnostic outcomes, this study offers preliminary insights into patterns of service use and potential access disparities in the Cypriot context. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using records from 235 children, aged 0;7 to 15 years, assessed at the University Rehabilitation Clinic between 2015 and 2024. Data included age, gender, socioeconomic status (SES), bilingualism, referral source, and diagnostic outcomes. Diagnoses were classified using Bishop et al.'s (2016) framework. Results: Significant associations were identified between age, parental education, referral source, and diagnostic category. Older children (9;1-12 years) demonstrated a markedly increased likelihood of receiving a developmental language disorder (DLD) diagnosis. Higher parental education levels and referrals from teachers or parents were also predictive of DLD and other communication impairments. Bilingualism was not a significant predictor of diagnostic category. Conclusions: The findings suggest that university-led clinics may serve as an important access point for underserved populations in Cyprus. This study provides preliminary evidence concerning demographic and referral factors that can inform outreach strategies and future service planning.

Keywords: Cyprus; developmental speech and language disorders; service accessibility; speech and language therapy; university-led clinic.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

    1. Conti-Ramsden G., Durkin K. Language Impairment and Adolescent Outcomes. In: Durkin K., Schaffer H.R., editors. The Wiley Handbook of Developmental Psychology in Practice. Wiley; Hoboken, NJ, USA: 2016. pp. 407–439.
    1. Snowling M.J., Duff F.J., Nash H.M., Hulme C. Language Profiles and Literacy Outcomes of Children with Resolving, Emerging, or Persisting Language Impairments. Child. Psychol. Psychiatry. 2016;57:1360–1369. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.12497. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Conti-Ramsden G., Ullman M.T., Lum J.A. The relation between receptive grammar and procedural, declarative, and working memory in specific language impairment. Front. Psychol. 2015;6:1090. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01090. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Davidson M.M., Alonzo C.N., Stransky M.L. Access to Speech and Language Services and Service Providers for Children With Speech and Language Disorders. Am. J. Speech Lang. Pathol. 2022;31:1702–1718. doi: 10.1044/2022_AJSLP-21-00287. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Morgan P.L., Hammer C.S., Farkas G., Hillemeier M.M., Maczuga S., Cook M., Morano S. Who Receives Speech/Language Services by 5 Years of Age in the United States? Am. J. Speech Lang. Pathol. 2016;25:183–199. doi: 10.1044/2015_AJSLP-14-0201. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources