1.25 million. It is the number of children or adolescents under 18 years of age who consulted a speech therapist at least once in France (except Mayotte) during 2019, according to a study by Dress (Department of research, studies, evaluation and statistics).
This represents close to 9% of minors, for more than 21 million consultations during the year. Although the reasons for using a speech therapist are numerous and differ depending on age, boys seem to consult more than girls.
Oral language: first reason for consultation
The first reason for consulting a speech therapist is language disorders (42.1%). They refer to an articulation disorder, a delay in speech or language, stuttering, etc. In 2019, 210,000 children between 3 and 5 years old consulted a speech therapist at least once (that is, 8.9%) and, among them, more than eight children in ten have undergone oral language rehabilitation (83, 0%).
The second reason to seek help from a speech therapist is dyslexia (specific reading learning disorder) or dysorthography (specific writing learning disorder).
“The reasons for appeal are intrinsically linked to age, in particular to written language disorders that appear especially from the moment of arrival at primary school,” the report clarifies.
Therefore, they are linked to the moment when the child begins to learn to read and write.
During adolescence, young people between 11 and 17 years old consult more for graphic and written language pathologies (56.6%). Logical-mathematical disorders as the main reason for consultation also progress in middle and high school age and concern almost 10% of adolescents who consult a speech therapist.
Boys and girls do not consult for the same reasons
According to the report, at the same age, boys and girls evidently do not consult for the same reasons. Between 6 and 10 years of age, girls are more frequently affected by logical-mathematical disorders than boys (6.6% vs. 2.5%). Among the latter, treatment is more linked to stuttering (2.1% vs. 0.9%) or dysphasia (3.7% vs. 2.5%).
In primary school, “boys use speech therapists almost 1.4 times more than girls,” states the Dress report.
During adolescence, boys aged 11 to 17 consult more frequently for written language pathologies, while girls consult more for logical-mathematical disorders.
Strong territorial disparities
In 2019, the average density of speech therapists in France was 135 per 100,000 children or adolescents under 18 years of age and experienced strong disparities throughout the national territory.
Half of French departments have fewer than 104 professionals per 100,000 young people. In metropolitan France, it varies from 40 speech therapists per 100,000 children in Cantal to 255 professionals in Hérault and 228 in Paris.
In the overseas departments (DOM), if Réunion is particularly well-endowed with a density above the national average (190 speech therapists per 100,000), Guyana continues to have a significant deficit with a density of 19 per 100,000.
Source: BFM TV
