They develop a mobile application that detects possible delays in the language of boys and girls

The technology, developed by academics from our Institution in conjunction with the University of Aveiro in Portugal, allows parents and teachers to determine the need for an evaluation by specialists.

Communications UTalca.- Helping parents and teachers to detect possible delays in children’s language development is the objective of a new mobile application, a pioneer in the country.

RALF is the name of this technology created by a team led by the academic from the UTalca School of Speech Therapy, Exequiel Plaza Taucare, together with researchers from the University of Aveiro, Portugal.

“It is an instrument that seeks to quickly identify whether or not preschool-age children have acquired the speech and language skills expected for their age, within normal childhood development,” explained the academic.

Unlike other tools in the same field, this one was designed with people who do not have academic training in the field in mind (parents, health and education professionals), so its use is simple and does not require further knowledge.

In this sense, through the platform, people can evaluate different parameters corresponding to the desirable linguistic development according to the age of the child, and according to the results, the algorithm determines whether or not it is recommended to consult with a specialist. .

According to the researcher, this App, which will be available from June, contributes “by reducing anxiety, uncertainty and even spending money when in doubt about thinking that the preschooler may have pathological language delay.”

In addition, it allows early detection of possible disorders that could cause learning problems in schoolchildren. “It is key to learning to read and write, that the previous development of communication is adequate. When that doesn’t happen, we have school training problems that can be very longstanding and be very unfavorable for the students”, explained the teacher.

great challenges

The speech therapist and academic from the University of Talca, José Antonio Suazo Ávila, who also participated in this project, explained that the detection of these disorders generally presents great challenges.

In this sense, he stressed that RALF is essential to “open the way to an absolutely early detection, even from the first months of life, which can accompany the development of families with these concerns.”

In addition, he stressed that, as an institution and Department of Communication Sciences and Phonoaudiology, there is a commitment to the community. “As a University we feel committed to the development of these family and parental skills,” he said.

community benefit

One of the institutions that will benefit from this technological development is the National Board of Kindergartens (JUNJI) of the Maule Region, who will have facilities to use this application.

Adolfo Martínez Henríquez, director of the organization, expressed his gratitude for the possibility of accessing this tool. “Some licenses are going to be released to get to know this program that, without a doubt, will help us in the neurolinguistic development of our girls and boys,” he said.

“JUNJI provides free and quality education to girls and boys between the ages of zero and 4. Therefore, we consider that it is a very powerful tool to be able to promote the development, mainly of language skills in early childhood”, assessed Martínez.