Delayed speech is a common concern in individuals with cerebral palsy. Todays question of the day explores the causes, clinical judgment, and interventions for speech delay in individuals with cerebral palsy.
The nurse is caring for a 3-year-old patient with cerebral palsy with the priority hypothesis of delayed speech. The nurse generates the expected outcome: Following education, the child’s caregivers will assist their child with communicating their needs.
For each caregiver statement, click to indicate whether the statement supports that the outcome has been met or not met.
| Caregiver Statement | Met | Not Met |
| “We have accepted that our child will likely never be able to communicate their needs.” | ||
| “We have met with a speech therapist and plan to see them once per week to better understand exercises that improve communication.” | ||
| “We’re encouraging our child to socialize with other children their age” | ||
| “We play games that allow our child to practice their speech skills.” |
Scroll down for the correct answer!
The correct answer to today’s NCLEX-RN® Question is…
| Caregiver Statement | Met | Not Met |
| “We have accepted that our child will likely never be able to communicate their needs.” | X | |
| “We have met with a speech therapist and plan to see them once per week to better understand exercises that improve communication.” | X | |
| “We’re encouraging our child to socialize with other children their age” | X | |
| “We play games that allow our child to practice their speech skills.” | X |
Major Takeaway
The nurse should use clinical judgment to evaluate outcomes related to cerebral palsy by comparing observed outcomes against expected outcomes. In this scenario, the outcome is that the child’s caregivers will assist their child in communicating their needs. This outcome is met when the caregivers state that they have met with a speech therapist and plan to see them weekly, they will encourage their child to socialize and are playing games with their child that allow them to practice speech skills. There is no evidence that their child will never be able to communicate again, therefore this statement does not indicate the outcome was met.
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