Background: Speech and language therapy is a new occupation in Vietnam and community awareness of this field is still limited. Parents seeking intervention services for language disorders in children face challenges figuring out and describing their child’s symptoms and finding the most effective intervention. However, the terms used to describe language disorders are not universal and it is not possible to see the impairments the child is experiencing due to the “invisible” state of the disorder.

Aim: To find out how parents perceive language disorders in their children.

Method: This study uses a general qualitative descriptive method. Qualitative data were generated based on semi-structured interviews with 15 parents of children who received speech and language therapy services. This study was carried out by the first undergraduate students majoring in speech and language therapy in Vietnam.

Results: The results of this study show that parents’ lack of awareness of the diagnostic terminology of language disorders has led to limited access to optimal services. In addition, there is a shortage of human resources in speech and language therapy with qualifications to effectively support these children and families.

Conclusions: Parents have difficulty understanding and interpreting diagnoses because most do not receive explanations from the examiner and if they do, it is unlikely that those explanations are accurate and appropriate for the child’s condition. Therefore, developing formal training in speech and language therapy in Vietnam is a sustainable foundation that is suitable for the Vietnamese context to ensure the quality of life of people with speech and language therapy needs in the future.

Implications for children and families: Early intervention and early detection are essential for children. If you see red flags in your child’s language, please find the nearest speech and language therapist in Vietnam, according to Trinh Foundation Australia’s website https://trinhfoundation.org/en/home/.

Implications for practitioners: Information on training in the first and second speech therapy majors in Vietnam has been widely announced on the websites of three universities in Vietnam. That is:

1. HMTU- http://www.hmtu.edu.vn/

2. DUMTP- https://dhktyduocdn.edu.vn/

3. UMP – https://ump.edu.vn/

You can also search for information on speech therapy specialties in Vietnam via the website http://speechtherapyvn.net/

Key words: language disorder, parents, awareness, Danang city, Vietnam, developmental language disorder (DLD)

This presentation relates to the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 4: Quality Education