Şanlıurfa İlinde Bir Eğitim Araştırma Hastanesine Çocuklar İçin Özel Gereksinim Raporu (ÇÖZGER) Amacıyla Başvuran Olguların Sosyodemografik ve Klinik Özellikleri.

Background: It was aimed to examine the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of 638 children who applied to Şanlıurfa Training and Research Hospital for Special Needs Report for Children (SNRC) and to contribute to new studies in the field of mental health with the results obtained. Materials and Methods: In our study, children and young people who applied to Şanlıurfa Training and Research Hospital for the purpose of a special needs report for children in the 6-month period between 01.10.2023 and 31.03.2024 were included. Participants' information was scanned retrospectively through the hospital information system. Results: The gender distribution of the cases was 261 (40.9%) females and 377 (59.1%) males with a male/female ratio of 1.44. The median age of the patients was 94.5 months (IQR 25/75: 51/134 months). When the distribution of the diagnoses of the cases was analyzed, it was observed that the problems in the cognitive domain were in the first place. In the cognitive domain, the most frequently reported condition was mental capacity at a level requiring an HSN (has special needs) rate. Speech sound disorder and ASD (autism spectrum disorder) were found to be statistically significantly higher in males. The level of need for HSN was found to be more frequent in males. In the diagnoses of delayed milestone, delayed development of receptive or expressive language, and speech disorder (all diagnoses within speech sound disorder within the scope of SNRC), it was found that the group with a statistically significant diagnosis had a lower average age than those without a diagnosis. In the diagnoses of childhood-onset speech fluency disorder and specific learning disability, the mean age of individuals with a diagnosis was statistically significantly higher than that of individuals without a diagnosis. Conclusions: Child and adolescent mental health and illness specialists and all health professionals who care for children should have the necessary knowledge to make appropriate referrals to ensure the educational and social rights of children and young people with special needs. In this context, it is important that physicians working with children and adolescents in our country have sufficient knowledge about SNRC and that their awareness on this issue is increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]