Volume 16, No. 1 Spring 2021Looking Deeper in the Assessment of Children with Sickle Cell Disease: A Need to Consider Language Development and Language Disruption Issues AUTHOR(S):
ABSTRACT Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders that is caused by an abnormal type of hemoglobin (Hb, S) which causes red blood cells to become sickle-shaped and rigid. The burden of SCD results in chronic fatigue, neurological complications, frequent hospitalizations, pain, and adverse pharmaceutical side effects from medications used to manage SCD and illnesses associated with SCD. Individuals with SCD are at an increased of mortality and morbidity as a result of neurological infarcts, infections, acute chest syndrome, and vaso- occlusive pain crisis. Many children with SCD frequently experience lower school achievement and attainment relative to students without SCD. There are significant gaps in the literature regarding the strong association of SCD and speech and language development in children. We propose there is an inherent need for early therapeutic intervention for cognitive and language development and disruption issues along with academic support for the many children with SCD who experience frequent hospitalizations and subsequently school absences thus impacting their academic performance. DOI: DOWNLOAD FULL ARTICLE |