The Effect of the Therapy Program with Stories on the Emotional Management Skills of Children with Speech and Language Disorders: Therapy Program with Stories

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of the Therapy with Stories Program on the emotional management skills of children with speech and language disorders. The study, in which a single group Pre-test-Post-test experimental design without control group was used, was conducted with 14 children aged 5-8 years with speech and language disorders. There are 9 stories (3 anger, 3 sadness, 3 anxiety) prepared by the researcher in the Therapy with Stories Program. The prepared stories were read to the children three times and the program was completed in 14 weeks. In the program, the strategies of asking questions and drawing pictures were used along with using figures while reading therapeutic stories. Before and after the application, Children's Emotional Management Skills Anger, Sadness and Worry Scales and semi-structured interview forms were applied to mothers. The obtained data were analysed with the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test. As a result of the research, the therapy program with stories increased the ability of children with speech and language disorders to cope with anger, sadness and anxiety; It has been found to be effective in suppressing and reducing the use of unregulated expression. According to the mother's observations, it was determined that the therapy program with stories decreased the unregulated expression of anger, sadness and anxiety in children with speech and language disorders, and increased their coping skills. In addition, while 10 children provided emotional regulation with parental support before the program, it was seen that 4 children provided emotional regulation with parental support after the program. According to these results, it can be said that the therapy program with stories is effective in helping children with speech and language disorders gain the ability to manage their emotions and control their emotions without parental support.