European Speech Therapy Day, observed on March 6, aims to raise awareness about the crucial role of speech therapy services in healthcare and education, as well as the importance of supporting individuals with communication disorders.
Speech therapists specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, rehabilitation, and therapy of speech, language, voice, and swallowing disorders. Dr. Sc. Jasmina Kabil, a speech therapist at the Clinic for Ear, Nose, Throat, and Head and Neck Surgery, University Clinical Center Tuzla, emphasizes the vital impact of their work. Using specialized therapeutic techniques, speech therapists help individuals develop, improve, or regain their speech and language abilities, enabling them to participate fully in everyday activities such as school, work, and social interactions. This, in turn, significantly enhances their quality of life.
This year’s theme for European Speech Therapy Day, “Enriching the Environment to Enrich Communication,” highlights the importance of creating a stimulating setting that fosters children’s speech and language development.
Dr. Sc. Jasmina Kabil, speech therapist at the Clinic for Ear, Nose, Throat, and Head and Neck Surgery, UKC Tuzla, emphasizes that speech development, particularly in children, can be encouraged through engaging activities such as storytelling, exploring picture books, singing rhymes, visiting theaters or zoos, and discussing these experiences. Interaction with peers and playing board games is also highly beneficial.
“I would especially encourage parents to invest in educational toys and to be mindful of limiting screen time. European Speech Therapy Day is an excellent opportunity to raise awareness about these topics and emphasize the importance of speech therapy support,” says Dr.Sc. Kabil.
The Phoniatrics Department of UKC Tuzla, along with leading international organizations, including the American Pediatric Association, recommends that children under 18 months should not be exposed to screen time, except for video calls with parents. For children aged 2 to 5 years, screen time should be limited to no more than one hour per day.
Parents are strongly advised to follow these guidelines to support their children’s healthy speech and language development.
