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Music Therapy and Its Correlation with Speech Development among Children with Speech Disorders in Nakuru Hills Special School in Nakuru County, Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2025-10) Nyabwengi, Faith Moraa
Music has long been integrated into children’s growth and development through phonics songs, play songs, and lullabies, which stimulate early language and speech development. For children with speech disorders, however, this natural progression is disrupted, resulting in difficulties in speech sound production and effective communication. These challenges negatively impact their social interactions, learning, and academic performance. This study aimed at examining the correlation between music therapy and speech Development in Children who have Speech Disorders in Nakuru Hills Special School, Nakuru, Kenya. The study focused on meeting the following objectives: To investigate how music therapy affects children’s speech development in Nakuru Hills Special, Nakuru County, Kenya; examine the specific prosocial skills linked to speech development have been developed in children in Nakuru Hills Special School, Nakuru;and assess whether redesigning music therapy is necessary in remedying problems related to speech development among children in Nakuru Hills Special School, Nakuru. The theoretical framework of the study included cognitive behavior theory and social-pragmatic theory. A quasi-experimental design was used to group the participants into two groups: the comparison group and the experimental group. The comparison group of learners with speech development disorders or problems received standard care or intervention, while the experimental group of learners with speech development disorders or problems received music therapy. The research population included special education teachers, special schools’ music teachers, and caregivers, as well as speech and language pathologists working at Nakuru Hills Special School and Kenyatta University. The sample consisted of 20 participants randomly selected from the sample population. The study utilized a mixed research approach to achieve and answer research objectives and questions, respectively. The qualitative and quantitative research approaches were applicable in the mixed methodology. Interview and survey instruments were used for data collection. Piloting of the research instruments was done to enhance the reliability and validity of the research instruments.. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis, was conducted in IBM SPSS version 26 using particulars gathered during the survey. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the interview data. Pearson correlation tests showed that music therapy had a positive and significant impact on multiple aspects of speech development, including articulation, vocabulary, and overall communication skills. Data collected from caregivers and speech therapists showed that children demonstrated noticeable improvements in clarity of speech, increased vocabulary, and enhanced ability to construct sentences. Cooperation emerged as the most developed skill, with 60% of caregivers reporting positive changes. However, skills such as empathy and listening require further exploration to fully understand their relationship with the therapy modalities used. It was concluded that caregivers and therapists both advocate for a more tailored approach to therapy, suggesting that personalized sessions and increased frequency could lead to better developmental outcomes for children. The insights garnered from both quantitative and qualitative data point towards a clear need for adjustments in therapeutic practices to better align with the specific needs of children with speech disorders. The study recommended that policies should be established to incorporate music therapy into speech therapy programs within special schools. This approach can enhance speech development while providing a holistic, engaging learning environment.
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Sex Stereotypes as Predictors of Mathematics Performance among Secondary School Students of Machakos County, Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2017-04) Kiswii, Irene Mbula
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Risk Management Strategies and Organizational Performance of Deposit-Taking SACCOs in Kiambu County, Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2025-08) Murungi, Doris Kagendo
Deposit Taking Saccos performance in the County of Kiambu is essential for long-term provision of guaranteed services to its membership while also supporting the governments Vision 2030 and growth of gross domestic product. However, an analysis of a three years organizational performance of DT-SACCOs revealed decline in deposits, gross loans and total assets. The focus of this research was to investigate the effect of risk management strategies on organizational performance of DT-SACCOs in Kiambu County. The study intended to determine the effect of risk avoidance, risk reduction, risk transfer and risk retention strategies on the organizational performance of DT Saccos in Kiambu County. Resource-based view, balanced scorecard, contingency and enterprise risk management theories guided the study. Research design for the study was explanatory and descriptive. The unit of observation was all 14 DT-SACCOs in Kiambu County while the unit of analysis consisted of all 126 heads of department from 14 DT-SACCOs Based on the small number of DT-SACCOs in Kiambu County, a census study was used. Semi-structured questionnaire was utilized for data collection. Nairobi City County is where the Pilot Study was done involving two DT-SACCOs with 12 respondents. Content, face and construct validity determined validity of the instrument. Cronbach alpha with a cut-off point of 0.7 to enable reliability analysis. Descriptive statistics and inferential analysis aided in data analysis. Ethical consideration such as anonymity, voluntary participation and consent was considered in the research. The risk avoidance (β=0.0311, p=0.002), risk reduction strategy (β=0.0405, p=0.003), risk transfer strategy (β=0.0297, p=0.002) and risk retention strategy (β=0.0506, p=0.004) were found to have a positive significant impact on the success of DT-SACCOs in the County of Kiambu, Kenya. The study concludes that a risk avoidance strategy streamlines processes and implements best practices leading to improved operational efficiency, reducing costs and enhancing service delivery to members. A strong risk reduction strategy demonstrates a commitment to safeguarding members' investments which strengthen trust and loyalty among members, resulting in higher retention rates and attracting new members. Risk transfer strategy enable DT-SACCOs to maintain a more stable financial position which is crucial for building trust among members and attracting new clients, ultimately leading to increased deposits and lending activities and retaining risk enable the DT-SACCOs to develop a deeper understanding of their risk profiles, allowing for more informed decision-making and better management of financial resources. The study recommends that it is necessary to conduct comprehensive risk assessments to identify potential vulnerabilities within the DT-SACCOs. The deposit taking Saccos should adopt advanced technology solutions that can significantly improve risk management through the use of data analytics and risk management software to monitor financial health, assess creditworthiness, and detect fraudulent activities in real time. Deposit taking Saccos can enhance their risk transfer strategies by diversifying their investment portfolios and collaborating with insurance companies can provide DT SACCOs with tailored insurance products that cover specific risks and the DT-SACCOs should focus on educating members about financial management and risk awareness can enhance their understanding of the cooperative's operations.