Impacts of Breakthrough’s school-based gender attitude change programme in Haryana, India

This paper presents strategies for increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of the school-based speech-language pathologist. Various time management strategies are adapted and outlined for three major areas of concern: using time, organizing the work area, and managing paper work. It is suggested that the use of such methods will aid the speech-language pathologist in coping with federal, state, and local regulations while continuing to provide quality therapeutic services.

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Speech-Language Pathologists' Perceptions of School-Based Services for Children With Hearing Loss

Language Speech and Hearing Services in Schools ◽

10.1044/2019_lshss-19-00040 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 51 (2) ◽

pp. 469-478

Author(s):

Sarah Allen ◽

Robert Mayo

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Online Survey ◽

Working Relationships ◽

Speech Language Pathologists ◽

School Aged Children ◽

School Based ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Positive Feelings ◽

Children With Hearing Loss ◽

Perceptions Of School

Purpose School-aged children with hearing loss are best served by a multidisciplinary team of professionals. The purpose of this research was to assess school-based speech-language pathologists' (SLPs) perceptions of their access to, involvement of, and working relationships with educational audiologists in their current work setting. Method An online survey was developed and distributed to school-based SLPs in North Carolina. Results A significant difference in access to and involvement of educational audiologists across the state was found. Conclusions This research contributes to professional knowledge by providing information about current perceptions in the field about interprofessional practice in a school-based setting. Overall, SLPs reported positive feelings about their working relationship with educational audiologists and feel the workload is distributed fairly.

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Considering the Language Disorder Label Debate From a School Speech-Language Pathology Lens

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/2019_persp-19-00077 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 47-54

Author(s):

Kimberly A. Murza ◽

Barbara J. Ehren

Keyword(s):

Language Impairment ◽

Specific Language Impairment ◽

Language Disorder ◽

Public Awareness ◽

Developmental Language Disorder ◽

Speech Language Pathology ◽

Speech Language Pathologist ◽

School Based ◽

Language Pathology ◽

Education Act

Purpose The purpose of this article is to situate the recent language disorder label debate within a school's perspective. As described in two recent The ASHA Leader articles, there is international momentum to change specific language impairment to developmental language disorder . Proponents of this change cite increased public awareness and research funding as part of the rationale. However, it is unclear whether this label debate is worthwhile or even practical for the school-based speech-language pathologist (SLP). A discussion of the benefits and challenges to a shift in language disorder labels is provided. Conclusions Although there are important arguments for consistency in labeling childhood language disorder, the reality of a label change in U.S. schools is hard to imagine. School-based services are driven by eligibility through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which has its own set of labels. There are myriad reasons why advocating for the developmental language disorder label may not be the best use of SLPs' time, perhaps the most important of which is that school SLPs have other urgent priorities.

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Reading Risk in Children With Speech Sound Disorder: Prevalence, Persistence, and Predictors

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/2020_jslhr-20-00108 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 63 (11) ◽

pp. 3714-3726

Author(s):

Sherine R. Tambyraja ◽

Kelly Farquharson ◽

Laura Justice

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Sound Production ◽

Speech Therapy ◽

Speech Sound ◽

Reading Difficulties ◽

School Age Children ◽

Speech Sound Disorder ◽

Word Decoding ◽

School Year ◽

School Based

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which school-age children with speech sound disorder (SSD) exhibit concomitant reading difficulties and examine the extent to which phonological processing and speech production abilities are associated with increased likelihood of reading risks. Method Data were obtained from 120 kindergarten, first-grade, and second-grade children who were in receipt of school-based speech therapy services. Children were categorized as being “at risk” for reading difficulties if standardized scores on a word decoding measure were 1 SD or more from the mean. The selected predictors of reading risk included children's rapid automatized naming ability, phonological awareness (PA), and accuracy of speech sound production. Results Descriptive results indicated that just over 25% of children receiving school-based speech therapy for an SSD exhibited concomitant deficits in word decoding and that those exhibiting risk at the beginning of the school year were likely to continue to be at risk at the end of the school year. Results from a hierarchical logistic regression suggested that, after accounting for children's age, general language abilities, and socioeconomic status, both PA and speech sound production abilities were significantly associated with the likelihood of being classified as at risk. Conclusions School-age children with SSD are at increased risk for reading difficulties that are likely to persist throughout an academic year. The severity of phonological deficits, reflected by PA and speech output, may be important indicators of subsequent reading problems.

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What Does Evidence-Based Practice Mean to You? A Follow-Up Study Examining School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists' Perspectives on Evidence-Based Practice

American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology ◽

10.1044/2019_ajslp-19-00171 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 29 (2) ◽

pp. 688-704

Author(s):

Katrina Fulcher-Rood ◽

Anny Castilla-Earls ◽

Jeff Higginbotham

Keyword(s):

Clinical Practice ◽

Research Evidence ◽

Evidence Based Practice ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Clinical Expertise ◽

Speech Language Pathologists ◽

School Based ◽

Research Findings ◽

Ebp Implementation

Purpose The current investigation is a follow-up from a previous study examining child language diagnostic decision making in school-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs). The purpose of this study was to examine the SLPs' perspectives regarding the use of evidence-based practice (EBP) in their clinical work. Method Semistructured phone interviews were conducted with 25 school-based SLPs who previously participated in an earlier study by Fulcher-Rood et al. 2018). SLPs were asked questions regarding their definition of EBP, the value of research evidence, contexts in which they implement scientific literature in clinical practice, and the barriers to implementing EBP. Results SLPs' definitions of EBP differed from current definitions, in that SLPs only included the use of research findings. SLPs seem to discuss EBP as it relates to treatment and not assessment. Reported barriers to EBP implementation were insufficient time, limited funding, and restrictions from their employment setting. SLPs found it difficult to translate research findings to clinical practice. SLPs implemented external research evidence when they did not have enough clinical expertise regarding a specific client or when they needed scientific evidence to support a strategy they used. Conclusions SLPs appear to use EBP for specific reasons and not for every clinical decision they make. In addition, SLPs rely on EBP for treatment decisions and not for assessment decisions. Educational systems potentially present other challenges that need to be considered for EBP implementation. Considerations for implementation science and the research-to-practice gap are discussed.

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Facilitating Parental Involvement in Speech Therapy for Children With Speech Sound Disorders: A Survey of Speech-Language Pathologists' Practices, Perspectives, and Strategies

American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology ◽

10.1044/2020_ajslp-19-00071 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 1987-1996

Author(s):

Sherine R. Tambyraja

Keyword(s):

Parental Involvement ◽

Online Survey ◽

Speech Therapy ◽

Speech Sound ◽

Speech Sound Disorders ◽

Speech Sound Disorder ◽

Speech Language Pathologists ◽

School Based ◽

Homework Completion

Purpose This study investigated the extent to which speech-language pathologists (SLPs) facilitate parents' completion of homework activities for children with speech sound disorder (SSD). In addition, this study explored factors related to more consistent communication about homework completion and strategies considered particularly effective for supporting this element of parental involvement. Method Licensed SLPs serving at least one child with SSD were invited to participate in an online survey. Questions relevant to this study gathered information regarding (a) frequency of communication about homework distribution and follow-up, (b) demographic and workplace characteristics, and (c) an open-ended question about the specific strategies used to support parental involvement and completion of homework activities. Results Descriptive results indicated considerable variability with respect to how frequently SLPs engaged in communication about homework completion, but that school-based SLPs were significantly less likely to engage in this type of follow-up. Strategies considered effective, however, were similar across therapy contexts. Conclusion These results suggest potentially important differences between school-based services and therapy in other contexts with respect to this particular aspect of service provision for children with SSD.

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Framework for Selecting Vocabulary for Preliterate Children Who Use Augmentative and Alternative Communication

American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology ◽

10.1044/2019_ajslp-18-0041 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 1000-1009

Author(s):

Allison Bean ◽

Lindsey Paden Cargill ◽

Samantha Lyle

Keyword(s):

Language Impairment ◽

Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽

Developmentally Appropriate ◽

School Age Children ◽

Alternative Communication ◽

School Based ◽

Selection For ◽

Nonverbal Children ◽

Grammatical Structures ◽

Insufficient Knowledge

Purpose Nearly 50% of school-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs) provide services to school-age children who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). However, many SLPs report having insufficient knowledge in the area of AAC implementation. The objective of this tutorial is to provide clinicians with a framework for supporting 1 area of AAC implementation: vocabulary selection for preliterate children who use AAC. Method This tutorial focuses on 4 variables that clinicians should consider when selecting vocabulary: (a) contexts/environments where the vocabulary can be used, (b) time span during which the vocabulary will be relevant, (c) whether the vocabulary can elicit and maintain interactions with other people, and (d) whether the vocabulary will facilitate developmentally appropriate grammatical structures. This tutorial focuses on the role that these variables play in language development in verbal children with typical development, verbal children with language impairment, and nonverbal children who use AAC. Results Use of the 4 variables highlighted above may help practicing SLPs select vocabulary that will best facilitate language acquisition in preliterate children who use AAC.

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Maximizing Expertise and Collaboration to Support Students With Brain Injury: A Case Study in Speech-Language Pathology

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/2019_pers-sig2-2019-0003 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (6) ◽

pp. 1267-1282

Author(s):

Jessica Salley ◽

Sarah Krusen ◽

Margaret Lockovich ◽

Bethany Wilson ◽

Brenda Eagan-Johnson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Brain Injury ◽

Medical Setting ◽

Speech Language Pathology ◽

Speech Language Pathologists ◽

Team Members ◽

School Activities ◽

School Based ◽

Language Pathology ◽

Specialized Education

Purpose Through a hypothetical case study, this article aimed to describe an evidence-based approach for speech-language pathologists in managing students with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), particularly within a formal statewide-supported school-based brain injury team model, such as the BrainSTEPS Brain Injury School Consulting Program operating in Pennsylvania and Colorado. Conclusion Upon transitioning from the medical setting back to school, children with TBI present with unique educational needs. Children with moderate-to-severe TBIs can demonstrate a range of strengths and deficits in speech, language, cognition, and feeding and swallowing, impacting their participation in various school activities. The specialized education, training, and insight of speech-language pathologists, in collaboration with multidisciplinary medical and educational team members, can enable the success of students with TBI when transitioning back to school postinjury ( DePompei & Blosser, 2019 ; DePompei & Tyler, 2018 ). This transition should focus on educational planning, implementation of strategies and supports, and postsecondary planning for vocations or higher education.

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