SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION DISORDERS最新文献

{"title":"'We are in this together' voices of speech-language pathologists working in South African healthcare contexts during level 4 and level 5 lockdown of COVID-19.","authors":"Skye N Adams,&nbsp;Jaishika Seedat,&nbsp;Kim Coutts,&nbsp;Kelly-Ann Kater","doi":"10.4102/sajcd.v68i1.792","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/sajcd.v68i1.792","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) has had a significant impact on every South African but more specifically healthcare professionals, including speech-language pathologists (SLPs). In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, South Africa implemented a nationwide lockdown as confirmed cases continued to rise. Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on SLPs has a three-fold purpose: to re-evaluate service provision, service delivery platforms and to identify the need for support to SLPs during a time of crisis. It is also crucial in guiding how policies and interventions need to be modified.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The study aimed to better understand how the workspace of SLPs in hospitals was impacted by COVID-19, how they experienced this process and the implications for them as healthcare professionals in both the private and public sector throughout South Africa.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>An exploratory cross-sectional study design was used to meet the aims of the study. Thirty-nine SLPs from different provinces in South Africa, working in government and private hospitals during COVID-19, responded to the online survey. Results were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic content analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>SLPs' roles, responsibilities and service delivery were impacted by COVID-19. It was necessary for typical outpatient therapy services to be modified; there were changes to the role of the SLP in the hospital and inpatient services were curtailed.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study provides insightful information to SLPs employed in hospitals to know that they are experiencing similar challenges. It also confirms the resilience of healthcare professionals, including SLPs, when faced with novel and unprecedented situations.</p>","PeriodicalId":44003,"journal":{"name":"SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION DISORDERS","volume":"68 1","pages":"e1-e12"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8007987/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25524716","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Outcomes of newborn hearing screening at an academic secondary level hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa.","authors":"Jacqueline K Bezuidenhout, Katijah Khoza-Shangase, Tim De Maayer, Renate Strehlau","doi":"10.4102/sajcd.v68i1.741","DOIUrl":"10.4102/sajcd.v68i1.741","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) issued early hearing detection and intervention guidelines, which has universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) as one of the important goals. Despite established evidence of the importance of UNHS globally, there has been no mandated formalised and standardised implementation as yet in South Africa.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The aim of this study was to describe the outcomes of newborn hearing screening (NHS) in an academic secondary level hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a prospective non-experimental feasibility study over a 3-month period, involving conducting hearing screening of 121 neonates. Audiologists conducted a risk factor assessment, otoscopic examinations and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) screening on each neonate, with follow-up appointments for re-screening and diagnostic audiological assessments for all neonates with refer findings. Data were analysed using STATA intercooled version 11©, through both descriptive and inferential statistics (Fisher's exact test), with significance established where p-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 121 neonates screened, the majority (75%) were screened in the first 24 h of life. A high refer rate (47%) of the total sample was found on DPOAE screening. No maternal or neonatal risk factors were found to be significantly associated with refer findings.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Findings contribute towards the existing evidence base that raises implications for successful implementation of NHS programmes in public healthcare in South Africa. Screening protocols need to consider the timing of screening, the measures and procedures adopted in the screening protocols, as well as the follow-up strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":44003,"journal":{"name":"SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION DISORDERS","volume":"68 1","pages":"e1-e8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7876983/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25354013","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of drug-resistant tuberculosis treatment on hearing function in South African adults: Bedaquiline versus kanamycin.","authors":"Katijah Khoza-Shangase,&nbsp;Marina Prodromos","doi":"10.4102/sajcd.v68i1.784","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/sajcd.v68i1.784","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Ototoxicity linked to medications used to treat tuberculosis (TB) remains a global challenge.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The aim was to describe the audiological function in a group of adults with drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) on bedaquiline (G-BDQ) treatment attending a TB hospital in South Africa and compare this with patients on kanamycin (G-KCIN).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A quantitative paradigm was adopted within a non-experimental retrospective record review design. The sample consisted of 30 records of adults with DR-TB between the ages of 18 and 50 years, recruited from a Tropical Diseases Hospital in South Africa. Data were analysed through both descriptive and inferential statistical measures.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Clear and statistically significant differences in the audiological function were found between the two groups. The group receiving G-KCIN presented with ototoxicity that was clearly demonstrated by sensorineural hearing loss of high-frequency worsening of thresholds in over 73% of the records, which was statistically (p 0.05) and clinically significant, over the three testing sessions, demonstrating the cumulative effects of dosage. Increased evidence of tinnitus was also found in this group. The group receiving G-BDQ presented with neither statistically (p 0.05) nor clinically significant changes in hearing thresholds across all frequencies over the same monitoring timeframe. Additionally, only one report (7%) of tinnitus was found in this group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The results indicating that bedaquiline does not cause hearing loss when compared with G-KCIN highlight the need for increased availability of bedaquiline for the treatment of DR-TB within the South African context, to preserve both the quantity and quality of life of those infected.</p>","PeriodicalId":44003,"journal":{"name":"SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION DISORDERS","volume":"68 1","pages":"e1-e8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7876958/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25354014","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Table of Contents Vol 67, No 1 & 2 (2020)","authors":"Editorial Office","doi":"10.4102/sajcd.v67i1.813","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/sajcd.v67i1.813","url":null,"abstract":"No abstract available.","PeriodicalId":44003,"journal":{"name":"SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION DISORDERS","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2020-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42196909","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A retrospective review of speech-language therapy services provided to adult inpatients at a central-level hospital in Gauteng, South Africa.","authors":"Jennifer Stone,&nbsp;Azra Hoosen,&nbsp;Hayley Hochfelden,&nbsp;Innocent Maposa,&nbsp;Shajila Singh","doi":"10.4102/sajcd.v67i1.707","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/sajcd.v67i1.707","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The quadruple burden of disease (BoD) and multimorbidity reflected in South Africa's public health sector challenges speech-language therapists (SLTs) to optimise patient management in this context. For planning and delivery of appropriate services, it is important to understand the profile of speech-language therapy (SLT) patients and the public healthcare services provided by SLTs.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to describe the prevalence of inpatient adult speech, language and swallowing disorders associated with various medical conditions and South Africa's BoD, in addition to the target areas and duration of SLT interventions provided at a central public hospital.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A retrospective review was conducted on records of 2549 adult inpatients who received SLT services between January 2014 and December 2015 at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital. Data, including demographics, medical and SLT diagnoses, and treatment recommendations, were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) were most prevalent (77.48%), with multimorbidity of BoD categories in 29.27% of patients. Cerebrovascular disease (CeVD) comprised 52.45% patients, with CeVD, traumatic brain injury, other neurological conditions, cancer and burns comprising 88.74% patients. More than a third of the patients with CeVD were 56 years (n = 486; 36.35%). Dysphagia (48.96%), aphasia (30.95%) and dysarthria (23.62%) were the most common, with 44.68% of patients having multiple SLT diagnoses. The number of SLT sessions significantly correlated with SLT comorbidity (rs = 0.4200; p = 0.0000), but not BoD comorbidity (rs = 0.0049; p = 0.8058).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Speech-language therapy patients reflected a heavy NCD burden and multimorbidity. Provision of SLT services should take into consideration a profile of increased complexity of medical conditions and SLT diagnoses.</p>","PeriodicalId":44003,"journal":{"name":"SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION DISORDERS","volume":"67 1","pages":"e1-e8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2020-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.4102/sajcd.v67i1.707","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38707537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The use of diet modifications and third-party disability in adult dysphagia: The unforeseen burden of caregivers in an economically developing country.","authors":"Kim A Coutts,&nbsp;Maxine Solomon","doi":"10.4102/sajcd.v67i1.777","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/sajcd.v67i1.777","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>One of the interventions for dysphagia is diet modifications, involving a variety of resources and consumables. In South Africa, where 49% of the population live below the poverty line, the necessities for it are not always feasible for the patient and their family. This coupled with the responsibility of caring for a loved one with disability can culminate into caregivers experiencing third-party disability (TPD).</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To describe the experiences of TPD of caregivers when implementing dysphagia management strategies at home within an economically developing country context.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a qualitative study using phenomenological principles. Data were collected using a semi-structured self-developed interview tool at three tertiary level public sector hospitals. Seven participants and six caregivers were interviewed. Rigour was obtained through credibility, triangulation, transferability, dependability and confirmability. The data were analysed using a thematic content analysis technique following a top-down approach to coding.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The use of diet modification is an appropriate management strategy if the patients' access and contextual limitations have been taken into consideration. It was evident that the caregivers had multiple International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health domains affected, which restricted their daily functioning including activities, participation and environmental and personal factors.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The management of dysphagia needs to be family centred and the caregiver's role and needs have to be considered by all team members when determining long-term management plans. The specific area of how the caregiver's quality of life was experienced also required further exploration.</p>","PeriodicalId":44003,"journal":{"name":"SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION DISORDERS","volume":"67 1","pages":"e1-e8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2020-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.4102/sajcd.v67i1.777","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38710662","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development and evaluation of the Ingwavuma receptive vocabulary test: A tool for assessing receptive vocabulary in isiZulu-speaking preschool children.","authors":"Xolisile Mazibuko,&nbsp;Moses Chimbari","doi":"10.4102/sajcd.v67i1.780","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/sajcd.v67i1.780","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study used local resources- community members, photographer and speech therapists to develop a new test for screening receptive language skills and sought to determine its feasibility for use with a larger population in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The aim of this study was to develop a one-word receptive vocabulary test appropriate for screening and diagnosis of isiZulu-speaking preschool-aged children. The objectives were (1) to determine sensitivity and specificity of the Ingwavuma Receptive Vocabulary Test (IRVT) and (2) to determine the relationship of IRVT scores with age, gender, time and the confounding variables of stunting and school.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The study was quantitative, cross-sectional and descriptive in nature. The IRVT was piloted before being administered to 51 children (4-6 years old). Statistical analysis of test item prevalence, correlations to confounding variables and validity measurements were conducted using Statistical Package for Social Scientists version 25 (SPSS 25).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The IRVT was able to profile the receptive skills for the preschool children in Ingwavuma. The mean raw score for boys was 35, and 32 for girls. There was a significant Pearson correlation between test scores and age (0.028, p 0.05) with a high effect size (Cohen's d = 0. 949), gender (r = -0.032, p 0.05) with a medium effect size (Cohen's d = 0.521) and school (r = 0.033, p 0.05) with a small effect size (Cohen's d = 0.353). The sensitivity and specificity values were 66.7% and 33%, respectively. The test reliability (Cronbach's alpha) was 0.739, with a good test-retest reliability.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The IRVT has potential as a screening test for isiZulu receptive vocabulary skills amongst preschool children. This study contributes to a development of clinical and research resources for assessing language abilities.</p>","PeriodicalId":44003,"journal":{"name":"SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION DISORDERS","volume":"67 1","pages":"e1-e10"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2020-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.4102/sajcd.v67i1.780","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38710661","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The validity of an isiZulu speech reception threshold test for use with adult isiZulu speakers.","authors":"Seema Panday,&nbsp;Harsha Kathard,&nbsp;Wayne J Wilson","doi":"10.4102/sajcd.v67i1.690","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/sajcd.v67i1.690","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study continued the development of an isiZulu speech reception threshold (zSRT) test for use with first language, adult speakers of isiZulu.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The objective of this study was to determine the convergent and concurrent validity of the zSRT test.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>One hundred adult isiZulu first-language speakers with normal hearing and 76 first-language, adult isiZulu speakers with conductive or sensorineural hearing losses ranging from mild to severe were assessed on pure tone audiometry and a newly developed isiZulu SRT test. Convergent validity was established through agreement of the zSRT scores with pure tone average (PTA) scores. Concurrent validity was assessed by examining the steepness of the psychometric curve for each word in the zSRT test for each type and degree of hearing loss.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Intraclass correlation coefficient analyses showed zSRT scores were in substantial to very high agreement with PTA scores for the normal hearing and hearing loss groups (NH - right ear ICC consistency = 0.78, left ear ICC = 0.67; HL - right ear ICC consistency = 0.97, left ear ICC consistency = 0.95). The mean psychometric slope (%/dB) at 50% correct perception for all words in the zSRT test was 4.92%/dB for the mild conductive hearing loss group, 5.26%/dB for the moderate conductive hearing loss group, 2.85%/dB for the moderately severe sensorineural hearing loss group and 2.47%/dB for the severe sensorineural hearing loss group. These slopes were appropriate for the degree of hearing loss observed in each group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The zSRT test showed convergent and concurrent validity for assessing SRT in first language, adult speakers of isiZulu.</p>","PeriodicalId":44003,"journal":{"name":"SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION DISORDERS","volume":"67 1","pages":"e1-e7"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2020-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7669950/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38593873","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Grammatical number inflection in Arabic-speaking children and young adults with Down syndrome.","authors":"Bassil Mashaqba,&nbsp;Haneen Abu Sa'aleek,&nbsp;Anas Huneety,&nbsp;Sabri Al-Shboul","doi":"10.4102/sajcd.v67i1.702","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/sajcd.v67i1.702","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) have more difficulties with the structural aspects of language, including morphology (concatenation and non-concatenation) and syntax (word order and grammatical/concord rules), than with other language components (e.g. vocabulary, phonetics and pragmatics).</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study investigates the accuracy of grammatical number inflection produced by Jordanian Arabic-speaking children and young adults with DS. The work also examines the correlation between age and the correct production of singular, dual and plural numbers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study involved 60 monolingual Arabic children and young adults with DS, 30 males and 30 females, enrolled at the Nazik Al Hariri Welfare Centre for Special Education, Amman. The participants were divided into three groups: KG2 (7.1-12.5 years old), school (13.10-17.6) and vocational training (18.3-27.3). The participants' data were collected from a picture elicitation task and free speech, and the answers were recorded using a smartphone. Tokens were classified into correctly used, incorrectly used or not recognised. Proficiency percentage in using the correct number in correlation with age was calculated adopting Jia's (2003) composite score of proficiency. The one-way analysis of variance was used to trace the impact of age on the correct performance of number. Post hoc comparisons (guided by the Scheffe test) were calculated for the cumulative results of the scale as a whole to examine the difference in the arithmetic mean between the three groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The singular form was the most used by all age groups (83.3%), followed by the plural (27%); the most delayed was dual (10.3%). Intriguingly, the dual form is the most difficult plural pattern because it was the least frequently used pattern in everyday language. Results were in line with other research on morphological markers in individuals with DS (e.g. Penke, 2018). The cumulative results statistically prove the influence of age on the correct use of grammatical number, in favour of the older two groups (total F = 29.865, at the level of significance P = 0.000), with a higher arithmetic mean of all categories (AM: KG2 = 9.00, school = 15.10, VT = 16.25). Hence, sensitivity to the correct number option increases with age although children and young adults with DS do not reach adult-like performance. The non-recognition cases of the proper number category significantly mark language delay in participants with DS.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study concluded that inflection for grammatical number is evidently delayed in individuals with DS. Linguistic teaching and training of children with DS (involving families, caregivers and educators) should start from childhood and continue to adulthood to improve their use of dual and plural numbers.</p>","PeriodicalId":44003,"journal":{"name":"SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION DISORDERS","volume":"67 1","pages":"e1-e7"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2020-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.4102/sajcd.v67i1.702","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38593872","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"'A blender without the lid on': Mealtime experiences of caregivers with a child with autism spectrum disorder in South Africa.","authors":"Skye N Adams,&nbsp;Raeesa Verachia,&nbsp;Kim Coutts","doi":"10.4102/sajcd.v67i1.708","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/sajcd.v67i1.708","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Evidence suggests that caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and associated feeding difficulties have specific mealtime challenges in the home environment because of the limited interventions that are appropriate and responsive to the needs of the child as well as the family.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To describe: (1) common feeding difficulties in children with ASD, (2) mealtime challenges for the caregiver and (3) mealtime strategies used by the caregiver.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Forty caregivers were purposively sampled to participate in the study. Participants were recruited through ASD-specific schools in Johannesburg, South Africa. Participants completed an online questionnaire focusing on their mealtime experiences with their child with ASD.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Findings from the data after thematic analysis indicated the multitude of challenges caregivers have when feeding their child with ASD as well as their individualised way of dealing with these difficulties.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings emphasised the importance of incorporating the family's beliefs, values and needs into feeding management and highlight the importance of a holistic approach to intervention. The study also provided information about mealtime strategies that are being used in the home environment to support the child as well as the caregiver. This information can be used to inform management to improve therapeutic outcomes and feeding challenges in the home environment.</p>","PeriodicalId":44003,"journal":{"name":"SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION DISORDERS","volume":"67 1","pages":"e1-e9"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2020-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.4102/sajcd.v67i1.708","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38593871","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}