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Predictors of Speech-Language Therapy Service Access among Parents in Aotearoa New Zealand

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Title: Predictors of Speech-Language Therapy Service Access among Parents in Aotearoa New Zealand
Language: English
Authors: Christine Sim, Bianca N. Jackson (ORCID 0000-0001-5566-8276), Suzanne Carolyn Purdy (ORCID 0000-0001-9978-8173)
Source: International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders. 2026 61(3).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 17
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Predictor Variables, Speech Language Pathology, Speech Therapy, Access to Health Care, Parents, Parent Child Relationship, Referral, Foreign Countries, Information Seeking, Early Intervention
Geographic Terms: New Zealand
DOI: 10.1111/1460-6984.70263
ISSN: 1368-2822
1460-6984
Abstract: Background: Effective support for children's speech, language, and communication development is essential to prevent long-term negative outcomes. Parental behaviours play a critical role in whether children are referred to and receive speech-language therapy. Aims: This study aimed to identify predictors of parents receiving Speech-language Therapy using longitudinal data from Growing Up in New Zealand. Method: Data were drawn from the Growing Up in New Zealand study, which is representative of the national child population. The analysis focused on children with reported speech concerns by age 54 months (N = 771). The primary outcome was whether speech-language therapy had been received for speech concerns by that age. Results: Logistic regression showed children had significantly higher odds of receiving speech-language therapy if their mothers experienced low socioeconomic deprivation during pregnancy (OR = 2.31, p < 0.01) and if family doctors were perceived as highly helpful when the child was nine months old (OR = 3.77, p < 0.05). In contrast, children whose mothers identified Māori as their prioritised ethnicity were significantly less likely to receive speech-language therapy than those identifying as European/Pākehā (OR = 0.40, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Findings highlight persistent ethnic and social inequities in access to speech-language therapy in New Zealand. Parental information-seeking may play a role but requires further research. These results support the need for targeted policies and early engagement strategies to ensure equitable receipt of speech-language therapy for children with speech, language, and communication needs.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1506894
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Predictors of Speech-Language Therapy Service Access among Parents in Aotearoa New Zealand
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  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Christine+Sim%22&quot;&gt;Christine Sim&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Bianca+N%2E+Jackson%22&quot;&gt;Bianca N. Jackson&lt;/searchLink&gt; (ORCID &lt;externalLink term=&quot;https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5566-8276&quot;&gt;0000-0001-5566-8276&lt;/externalLink&gt;)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Suzanne+Carolyn+Purdy%22&quot;&gt;Suzanne Carolyn Purdy&lt;/searchLink&gt; (ORCID &lt;externalLink term=&quot;https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9978-8173&quot;&gt;0000-0001-9978-8173&lt;/externalLink&gt;)
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  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;SO&quot; term=&quot;%22International+Journal+of+Language+%26+Communication+Disorders%22&quot;&gt;&lt;i&gt;International Journal of Language &amp; Communication Disorders&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/searchLink&gt;. 2026 61(3).
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley &amp; Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22New+Zealand%22&quot;&gt;New Zealand&lt;/searchLink&gt;
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  Data: 10.1111/1460-6984.70263
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  Data: 1368-2822&lt;br /&gt;1460-6984
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  Data: Background: Effective support for children&#39;s speech, language, and communication development is essential to prevent long-term negative outcomes. Parental behaviours play a critical role in whether children are referred to and receive speech-language therapy. Aims: This study aimed to identify predictors of parents receiving Speech-language Therapy using longitudinal data from Growing Up in New Zealand. Method: Data were drawn from the Growing Up in New Zealand study, which is representative of the national child population. The analysis focused on children with reported speech concerns by age 54 months (N = 771). The primary outcome was whether speech-language therapy had been received for speech concerns by that age. Results: Logistic regression showed children had significantly higher odds of receiving speech-language therapy if their mothers experienced low socioeconomic deprivation during pregnancy (OR = 2.31, p &lt; 0.01) and if family doctors were perceived as highly helpful when the child was nine months old (OR = 3.77, p &lt; 0.05). In contrast, children whose mothers identified Māori as their prioritised ethnicity were significantly less likely to receive speech-language therapy than those identifying as European/Pākehā (OR = 0.40, p &lt; 0.001). Conclusion: Findings highlight persistent ethnic and social inequities in access to speech-language therapy in New Zealand. Parental information-seeking may play a role but requires further research. These results support the need for targeted policies and early engagement strategies to ensure equitable receipt of speech-language therapy for children with speech, language, and communication needs.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1506894
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        Value: 10.1111/1460-6984.70263
    Languages:
      – Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 17
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Predictor Variables
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Speech Language Pathology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Speech Therapy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Access to Health Care
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Parents
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Parent Child Relationship
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Referral
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
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      – SubjectFull: Information Seeking
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      – SubjectFull: Early Intervention
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      – SubjectFull: New Zealand
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      – TitleFull: Predictors of Speech-Language Therapy Service Access among Parents in Aotearoa New Zealand
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            – TitleFull: International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders
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