Trends in Clinical Practice Research in ASHA Journals: 2008–2018

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 1629-1639
Author(s):  
Megan Y. Roberts ◽  
Bailey J. Sone ◽  
Katherine E. Zanzinger ◽  
Marie E. Bloem ◽  
Kara Kulba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Research Articles ◽  
Practice Research ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Speech Language Pathology ◽  
Content Areas ◽  
Hearing Research ◽  
The Past ◽  
Language Pathology ◽  
Future Work

Purpose Despite the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's (ASHA's) endorsement of evidence-based practice (EBP) and speech-language pathologists' (SLPs') agreement on the importance of EBP, practicing clinicians report barriers to implementing EBP. The purpose of this study was to examine trends in clinical practice research published in ASHA journals over the past 11 years (2008–2018). Method A total of 2,483 articles from the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology ; Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools ; and Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research were extracted for coding. Coders were licensed SLPs who were trained to 80% reliability on classifying the type of research in each article. Clinical practice research articles were further classified as studies on assessment, studies on intervention, and studies that explore the implementation of EBP. Results Clinical practice research comprised the minority of literature published in ASHA journals in the field of speech-language pathology (25%). These articles were composed of assessment (10%), intervention (15%), and implementation (< 1%). These articles were distributed across a variety of primary content areas, with an absence of implementation science for the majority of clinical areas. Conclusions The lack of clinical practice research readily available to practicing SLPs is a barrier to EBP. The results of this study underscore the need for increased clinical practice research. Future work should investigate EBP in the context of clinician–researcher partnerships and increasing the capacity of clinicians to conduct clinical practice research. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.12550928

Don't Blow This Therapy Session!

2013 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 38-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory L. Lof ◽  
Dennis Ruscello
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Research Articles ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Speech Language Pathology ◽  
Oral Motor ◽  
Evidence Based Treatments ◽  
Language Pathology ◽  
History Of ◽  
Oral Motor Exercises

Blowing exercises and other nonspeech oral motor exercises (NSOMEs) are commonly used therapeutic techniques for children with repaired cleft palate and velopharyngeal inadequacy. Blowing exercises have a long history in the field, dating back to the early days of speech-language pathology when clinicians relied upon expert opinion to influence clinical practice. However, for more than 60 years, NSOMEs such as blowing have been questioned and many empirical studies have been conducted that demonstrate the ineffectiveness of these exercises. This article provides reasons why NSOMEs, mainly blowing, should not be used in therapy. It also traces the history of blowing exercises and then summarizes some of the seminal research articles that show that they do not work. Effective evidence-based treatments for compensatory errors are also reviewed.

A Brief Overview of the WPATH Companion Document on Voice and Communication

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelagh Davies
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Professional Association ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Speech Language Pathology ◽  
Standing Committee ◽  
Transgender Health ◽  
Link Type ◽  
The World ◽  
Language Pathology ◽  
The Voice

Transgender voice and communication is an emerging area of practice within the scope of speech-language pathology. The evidence that informs this practice is still sparse, but is rapidly expanding. To support clinicians, the Voice and Communication Standing Committee of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) has recently prepared a document that summarizes the evidence-based literature up to 2013 and offers suggestions to guide clinical practice. This paper is a brief outline of that document, which will be available in an upcoming issue of the International Journal of Transgenderism and also, free of charge, on the WPATH website at http://www.wpath.org .

Measuring Stakeholder Perceptions: A Review of Social Validity Reporting in ASHA Journals

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Arnold Olszewski ◽  
Kirsty Rae
Keyword(s):  
Evidence Based Practice ◽  
Social Validity ◽  
Communication Disorders ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Speech Language Pathology ◽  
Evidence Based Practices ◽  
Hearing Research ◽  
Language Pathology ◽  
Validity Measures ◽  
Stakeholder Input

Purpose Intervention research in speech-language pathology is growing; however, there remains a gap between research and clinical practice. To promote evidence-based practice, stakeholder input may be solicited during the development and evaluation of treatments. One method of evaluating stakeholder input is by subjectively measuring social validity. Social validity probes end users' satisfaction and acceptability of a treatment. Method This review article explores the type and frequency of subjective social validity measures reported in speech-language pathology treatment literature published in American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology; Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research; and Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools from January 2017 through April 2019. In total, 93 treatment studies were included and coded descriptively. Results Of the 93 treatment studies included in this review, 20 reported subjective measures of social validity. The most common method of measurement was questionnaires ( n = 19), followed by interviews ( n = 5), and direct observation ( n = 1). Conclusions Only 21.5% of reviewed speech-language pathology treatment articles from American Speech-Language-Hearing Association journals reported measures of social validity, although it is a crucial component of implementation of evidence-based practice. We urge researchers and journal editors to include social validity measures in treatment literature as we promote the uptake of evidence-based practices and the involvement of stakeholders during the development of evidence-based practices. We also encourage the development of social validity measures that can be validated on individuals with communication disorders.

scholarly journals Evidence-Based Practice in Speech-Language Pathology: Where Are We Now?

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 186-198
Author(s):  
Tamar Greenwell ◽  
Bridget Walsh
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Graduate School ◽  
Evidence Based Practice ◽  
Perceived Barriers ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Speech Language Pathology ◽  
Clinical Practices ◽  
Speech Language Pathologists ◽  
Career Training ◽  
Language Pathology

Purpose In 2004, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association established its position statement on evidence-based practice (EBP). Since 2008, the Council on Academic Accreditation has required accredited graduate education programs in speech-language pathology to incorporate research methodology and EBP principles into their curricula and clinical practicums. Over the past 15 years, access to EBP resources and employer-led EBP training opportunities have increased. The purpose of this study is to provide an update of how increased exposure to EBP principles affects reported use of EBP and perceived barriers to providing EBP in clinical decision making. Method Three hundred seventeen speech-language pathologists completed an online questionnaire querying their perceptions about EBP, use of EBP in clinical practice, and perceived barriers to incorporating EBP. Participants' responses were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. We used multiple linear regression to examine whether years of practice, degree, EBP exposure during graduate program and clinical fellowship (CF), EBP career training, and average barrier score predicted EBP use. Results Exposure to EBP in graduate school and during the CF, perception of barriers, and EBP career training significantly predicted the use of EBP in clinical practice. Speech-language pathologists identified the three major components of EBP: client preferences, external evidence, and clinical experience as the most frequently turned to sources of EBP. Inadequate time for research and workload/caseload size remain the most significant barriers to EBP implementation. Respondents who indicated time was a barrier were more likely to cite other barriers to implementing EBP. An increase in EBP career training was associated with a decrease in the perception of time as a barrier. Conclusions These findings suggest that explicit training in graduate school and during the CF lays a foundation for EBP principles that is shaped through continued learning opportunities. We documented positive attitudes toward EBP and consistent application of the three components of EBP in clinical practice. Nevertheless, long-standing barriers remain. We suggest that accessible, time-saving resources, a consistent process for posing and answering clinical questions, and on the job support and guidance from employers/organizations are essential to implementing clinical practices that are evidence based. The implications of our findings and suggestions for future research to bridge the research-to-practice gap are discussed.

Master Clinician Network: An Online Social Network for the Observation of Peer-Reviewed Clinical Practice in Communication Sciences and Disorders

2011 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 39-45
Author(s):  
Martin A. Fischer
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Clinical Observation ◽  
Online Social Network ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Critical Discourse ◽  
Innovative Approach ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Speech Language Pathology ◽  
Language Pathology

The Master Clinician Network is a project designed to make peer-reviewed examples of evidence-based clinical practice in speech-language pathology available for observation and critical discourse. The importance of clinical observation in communication sciences and disorders is discussed along with concerns regarding traditional methodology. An innovative approach is presented that includes an online social network designed to provide access to clinical videos, including results of a pilot project. These results are available at http://masterclinician.org .

Current Issues: Evidence-Based Practice for the Real World: Thoughts on Clinical Education in Communication Disorders

2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 100-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne K. Bothe
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Education ◽  
Real World ◽  
Evidence Based Practice ◽  
Communication Disorders ◽  
University Faculty ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Speech Language Pathology ◽  
Basic Principles ◽  
The Real ◽  
Language Pathology

This article presents some streamlined and intentionally oversimplified ideas about educating future communication disorders professionals to use some of the most basic principles of evidence-based practice. Working from a popular five-step approach, modifications are suggested that may make the ideas more accessible, and therefore more useful, for university faculty, other supervisors, and future professionals in speech-language pathology, audiology, and related fields.

Evidence-Based Practice & Practice-Based Evidence Applied to Adult, Medical Speech-Language Pathology

2013 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rik Lemoncello ◽  
Bryan Ness
Keyword(s):  
Evidence Based Practice ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Speech Language Pathology ◽  
Clinical Practices ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials ◽  
Relative Paucity ◽  
Language Pathology

In this paper, we review concepts of evidence-based practice (EBP), and provide a discussion of the current limitations of EBP in terms of a relative paucity of efficacy evidence and the limitations of applying findings from randomized controlled clinical trials to individual clinical decisions. We will offer a complementary model of practice-based evidence (PBE) to encourage clinical scientists to design, implement, and evaluate our own clinical practices with high-quality evidence. We will describe two models for conducting PBE: the multiple baseline single-case experimental design and a clinical case study enhanced with generalization and control data probes. Gathering, analyzing, and sharing high-quality data can offer additional support through PBE to support EBP in speech-language pathology. It is our hope that these EBP and PBE strategies will empower clinical scientists to persevere in the quest for best practices.

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