Intrafamily violence and speech therapy: a content analysis

Abstract

Purpose to analyze the difficulties and facilities reported by Speech and Language Pathology and Audiology in cases of domestic violence against children and/or adolescents. Methods cross-sectional research, carried out through the application of questionnaires with speech therapists from Paraná and Santa Catarina. Professionals from the clinical field who assisted children and adolescents were included, and speech therapists who only assisted adults and the elderly were excluded. The data were explored through the Content Analysis methodology. Results 75 Speech and Language Pathology and Audiology were included, 70.7% from Paraná and 29.3% from Santa Catarina. Of the participants, 52% assisted children and/or adolescents with suspected or confirmed cases of violence. In the content analysis, the results were allocated on a single axis subdivided into three thematic sub-axes: 1.1 professionals who did not report difficulties or facilities, sub-axis 1.2 the facilities and sub-axis 1.3 the difficulties. Conclusion The facilities of the Speech and Language Pathology and Audiology in caring for victims of child and youth intrafamily violence are related to a good therapeutic bond between the patient and/or family members and adequate multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary and network work. The difficulties in Speech and Language Pathology and Audiology care for children and adolescents victims of violence are related to the dialogue with the family, the support bodies, the frequency of the patient, the elaboration of therapeutic strategies, and the lack of professional and psychological preparation of the speech therapist.