Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the subjective burden in mothers of speech impaired children against the presence or absence of emotional disorders such as anxiety and depression.
Methods: A total of 89 mothers (age 33.3+/-5.5 years, range: 19.6-43.8 years) of 89 speech impaired preschool children (23 girls, 66 boys, age: 3.9+/-1.5 years, range: 1.6-7.1 years) were examined. Screening for a depressive or anxiety disorder was performed using the German version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale HADS-D. The "Short Questionnaire on Current Burden" (Kurzfragebogen zur Aktuellen Belastung, KAB) was used to measure the level of perceived subjective burden at the time of the investigation.
Results: A higher score in the KAB test occurred significantly more often in mothers with a positive HADS depression/anxiety subscale result than in those with a negative one.
Conclusions: There is a need for specific assessment of wellbeing in mothers of speech impaired children. In clinical practice, one may restrict oneself to the use of a screening test for anxiety and depression.