Bilingual and Monolingual Students' Perceptions of the CSD Major: A Qualitative Study

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flora Keshishian ◽  
Rebecca Wiseheart

There is a growing demand for bilingual services in speech-language pathology and audiology. To meet this growing demand, and given their critical role in the recruitment of more bilingual professionals, higher education institutions need to know more about bilingual students' impression of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) as a major. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate bilingual and monolingual undergraduate students' perceptions of the CSD major. One hundred and twenty-two students from a large university located in a highly multicultural metropolitan area responded to four open-ended questions aimed at discovering students' major areas of interest (and disinterest) as well as their motivations for pursuing a degree in CSD. Consistent with similar reports conducted outside the United States, students from this culturally diverse environment indicated choosing the major for altruistic reasons. A large percentage of participants were motivated by a desire to work with children, but not in a school setting. Although 42% of the participants were bilingual, few indicated an interest in taking an additional course in bilingual studies. Implications of these findings as well as practical suggestions for the recruitment of bilingual students are discussed.

Author(s):  
Melissa A. Pierce

In countries other than the United States, the study and practice of speech-language pathology is little known or nonexistent. Recognition of professionals in the field is minimal. Speech-language pathologists in countries where speech-language pathology is a widely recognized and respected profession often seek to share their expertise in places where little support is available for individuals with communication disorders. The Peace Corps offers a unique, long-term volunteer opportunity to people with a variety of backgrounds, including speech-language pathologists. Though Peace Corps programs do not specifically focus on speech-language pathology, many are easily adapted to the profession because they support populations of people with disabilities. This article describes how the needs of local children with communication disorders are readily addressed by a Special Education Peace Corps volunteer.


Author(s):  
Luis F. Riquelme

Abstract Passing the Praxis Examination in speech-language pathology or audiology can be a difficult task. A passing score is the entry to a list of requirements for national certification (CCC-SLP, CCC-A) and for state licensure in the United States. This article will provide current information on the examination and address barriers to success that have been identified over the years. A call to action may serve to refocus efforts on improving access to success for all test-takers regardless of race/ethnicity, ability, or geographic location.


Author(s):  
Charles Ellis ◽  
Molly Jacobs

Health disparities have once again moved to the forefront of America's consciousness with the recent significant observation of dramatically higher death rates among African Americans with COVID-19 when compared to White Americans. Health disparities have a long history in the United States, yet little consideration has been given to their impact on the clinical outcomes in the rehabilitative health professions such as speech-language pathology/audiology (SLP/A). Consequently, it is unclear how the absence of a careful examination of health disparities in fields like SLP/A impacts the clinical outcomes desired or achieved. The purpose of this tutorial is to examine the issue of health disparities in relationship to SLP/A. This tutorial includes operational definitions related to health disparities and a review of the social determinants of health that are the underlying cause of such disparities. The tutorial concludes with a discussion of potential directions for the study of health disparities in SLP/A to identify strategies to close the disparity gap in health-related outcomes that currently exists.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (11) ◽  
pp. 73-78
Author(s):  
David W. Rule ◽  
Lisa N. Kelchner

Telepractice technology allows greater access to speech-language pathology services around the world. These technologies extend beyond evaluation and treatment and are shown to be used effectively in clinical supervision including graduate students and clinical fellows. In fact, a clinical fellow from the United States completed the entire supervised clinical fellowship (CF) year internationally at a rural East African hospital, meeting all requirements for state and national certification by employing telesupervision technology. Thus, telesupervision has the potential to be successfully implemented to address a range of needs including supervisory shortages, health disparities worldwide, and access to services in rural areas where speech-language pathology services are not readily available. The telesupervision experience, potential advantages, implications, and possible limitations are discussed. A brief guide for clinical fellows pursuing telesupervision is also provided.


2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. 41-49
Author(s):  
Ellen Moore

As the Spanish-speaking population in the United States continues to grow, there is increasing need for culturally competent and linguistically appropriate treatment across the field of speech-language pathology. This paper reviews information relevant to the evaluation and treatment of Spanish-speaking and Spanish-English bilingual children with a history of cleft palate. The phonetics and phonology of Spanish are reviewed and contrasted with English, with a focus on oral pressure consonants. Cultural factors and bilingualism are discussed briefly. Finally, practical strategies for evaluation and treatment are presented. Information is presented for monolingual and bilingual speech-language pathologists, both in the community and on cleft palate teams.


Author(s):  
Sue Ann S. Lee

Purpose: This article addresses my experience as a speech-language pathologist in a cultural exchange and global outreach program in Vietnam. The importance and various types of cultural exchange and global outreach programs available through the U.S. Department of State, the current status of educational speech-language pathology programs in Vietnam, and a brief introduction of the country as well as its unique cultural characteristics are also discussed. Conclusions: As a Fulbright U.S. scholar, I resided 6 months in Hue, Vietnam, to provide education and consultation services to children who needed speech-language pathology services and their families. The speech pathology profession in Vietnam is significantly underdeveloped. However, several international nongovernmental organizations and foreign universities have assisted Vietnam in developing speech pathology and audiology professions. Among many opportunities to serve the needs of speech pathology and audiology preprofessional education and service delivery in Vietnam, one of the most prestigious opportunities is the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. It is my hope that my personal and professional experiences can encourage fellow speech-language pathology and audiology professors and practitioners to apply for a Fulbright scholarship to pursue a rich volunteer experience in a foreign country as well as to improve their cultural competency upon return to their own academic institutions.


2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 105
Author(s):  
Giovanna Badia

A Review of: Grabowsky, A. (2015). Library instruction in communication disorders: Which databases should be prioritized? Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship 79(Winter). doi:10.5062/F4707ZFB Abstract Objective – There are two objectives in this research article. The first is to identify databases that librarians usually recommend to students for searching topics in communication disorders. The second is to compare these databases’ indexing of core journals in communication disorders, with the purpose of ascertaining which databases should be taught first in a one-shot information literacy session. Design – A comparative database evaluation using citation analysis. Setting – 10 universities in the United States of America offering LibGuides for their audiology or speech language pathology programs. Subjects – Six databases: CINAHL, ERIC, Linguistics and Language Behavior Abstracts (LLBA), PsycINFO, PubMed/Medline, and Web of Science/Web of Knowledge. Methods – The author selected 10 universities from the top 20 included in the graduate school rankings for audiology and/or speech language pathology from U.S. News & World Report. The 10 universities selected were chosen because their librarians published online subject guides using LibGuides that suggest databases students can use for searching topics in communication disorders. The LibGuides were then examined to identify the most popular recommended databases that the author subsequently used for comparing coverage of core journals in communication disorders. The author generated a core journals list by selecting the top 20 audiology and speech-language pathology journals from Journal Citation Reports, SCImago Journal & Country Rank, and Google Scholar Top Publications. These three sources produced lists of influential journals in different subject areas by looking at the number of citations the journals have received, alongside other factors. The author searched for 33 journals in total in each of the subject databases previously identified. Main Results – The author found six databases that were mentioned in the LibGuides of at least half the universities investigated. None of the 6 databases indexed all 33 core journals. The breakdown of the number of journals indexed in each database is as follows: Web of Science/Web of Knowledge indexed 32 of 33 core journals (97%); PubMed/Medline indexed 28 (85%); PsycINFO indexed 27 (82%); CINAHL indexed 25 (76%); LLBA indexed 23 (70%); and ERIC indexed 9 journals (27%). Conclusion – The author discovered that pairing certain databases allows for coverage of all 33 core journals. These pairings are: PubMed/Medline with PsycINFO, PubMed/Medline with LLBA, PubMed/Medline with Web of Science, Web of Science with PsycINFO, and Web of Science with LLBA. The author suggests that librarians can create instructional materials for all recommended databases, “but use information from this study together with institution-specific factors to decide which databases to prioritize in face-to-face instruction sessions for speech-language pathology and audiology students” (Conclusion).


1996 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 385-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hortencia Kayser

The authors in this forum have presented innovative assessment and intervention approaches with culturally and linguistically diverse children. This epilogue summarizes and discusses several issues concerning assessment and intervention with this population.


2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (2S) ◽  
pp. 986-992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily L. Morrow ◽  
Lyn S. Turkstra ◽  
Melissa C. Duff

Purpose The purpose of this article is to highlight the need for increased focus on cognitive communication in North American speech-language pathology graduate education models. Method We describe key findings from a recent survey of acute care speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in the United States and expand upon the ensuing discussion at the 2020 International Cognitive-Communication Disorders Conference to consider some of the specific challenges of training for cognitive communication and make suggestions for rethinking how to prepare future clinicians to manage cognitive-communication disorders. Results Results from the survey of acute care SLPs indicated inconsistent confidence and training in managing cognitive-communication disorders. We discuss the pros and cons of several avenues for improving the consistency of cognitive-communication training, including a standalone cognitive-communication course, integrating cognitive communication in all courses across the speech-language pathology undergraduate and graduate curriculum, and using problem-based learning frameworks to better prepare students as independent thinkers in the area of cognitive communication and beyond. Conclusions Cognitive-communication disorders cut across clinical diagnoses and settings and are one of the largest and fastest growing parts of the SLP's scope of practice. Yet, surveys, including the one discussed here, have repeatedly indicated that SLPs do not feel prepared or confident to work with individuals with cognitive-communication disorders. We propose several avenues for increasing educational emphasis on cognitive communication. We hope these ideas will generate discussion and guide decision making to empower SLPs to think critically and step confidently into their roles as leaders in managing the heterogeneous and ever-growing populations of individuals with cognitive-communication disorders.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-16

Introduction: The complexity of ever-changing health standards, new health policies, changes in the healthcare environment, necessitates an advanced level of professional expertise in Medical Speech-Language Pathology (MSLP). Objective: This study presents the current status, opportunities, and perspectives for the development of MSLP in Bulgaria. Method Theoretical overview and comparative analysis of the data and literature on MSLP as it exists in the USA and is developing in Bulgaria, where it is most often referred to as Clinical Logopedics. In this article, we present: (i) a comparative analysis of the development of this dynamic, expanding, and continuously developing health profession in the USA (the country with the most innovative and highly evolved practice of MSLP) and Bulgaria; (ii) brief historical notes related to the development of Speech-Language Pathology in the United States and Bulgaria; (iii) the scope of practice of MSLP in the USA and Bulgaria, which is a key problem for the prospects for the development of this specialty in Bulgaria, and (iv) the problems associated with establishing a master’s degree program in MSLP. Conclusion: MSLP has perspective for development in Bulgaria only if it is studied as a health specialty within medical or health faculties, but necessarily housed within a medical university. A clear understanding of the scope of practice is fundamental for the development of MSLP, but it should not overlap the purview of other professions. The MSLP master’s program should be innovative, manageable, and comprehensive, providing for a wide range of specialized clinical experiences that prepare students to practice effectively in a medical environment.


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