scholarly journals Retention in rural speech and language therapy: The impact of rural tertiary education in Australia

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Michelle Smith-Tamaray ◽  
Sarah Verdon ◽  
Laura Hoffman
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Rural Practice ◽  
Speech And Language ◽  
Language Therapy ◽  
Speech And Language Therapy ◽  
Recruitment And Retention ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND: Recruitment and retention of skilled health workers into rural areas is a major challenge to achieving equity in health between rural and urban populations. OBJECTIVE: This study explored the impact of rurally-based tertiary education in promoting the recruitment and retention of speech and language therapists (SLTs) in non-metropolitan areas and intention to remain in the profession. METHODS: Participants in this cohort study were 133 graduates from a rurally-based speech and language therapy course in Australia who completed the course between 1998 and 2018. Data were collected via an online survey. Data were analysed using inferential statistics, ArcGIS mapping software and content analysis in NVivo. RESULTS: 65.0% of the graduates practiced in rural or remote areas with just 21.1% practicing in major cities. Most participants’ ideal work location was in a rural area. Benefits of rural practice included seeing a mixed caseload, living near family, work/life balance and loving their location. Challenges of rural practice included limited opportunities for specialist caseloads and career progression. In total, 93.2% of the rural graduates intended to remain in the speech and language therapy profession for the next 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that SLTs who are trained in rural areas with a focus on servicing rural populations are highly likely to enter and remain in rural practice, consistent with the rural pipeline model.

scholarly journals M11 The impact of respiratory speech and language therapy on patients’ cough related symptoms

Thorax ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 71 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A263.1-A263
Author(s):  
J Haines ◽  
C Slinger ◽  
A Vyas ◽  
S Chua ◽  
SJ Fowler
Keyword(s):  
Speech And Language ◽  
Language Therapy ◽  
Speech And Language Therapy ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Speech and Language Therapy Service for Multilingual Children: Attitudes and Approaches across Four European Countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (21) ◽  
pp. 12143
Author(s):  
Theresa Bloder ◽  
Maren Eikerling ◽  
Tanja Rinker ◽  
Maria Luisa Lorusso
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Influential Factor ◽  
Educational Equality ◽  
Policy Recommendations ◽  
Speech And Language ◽  
Language Therapy ◽  
Language Background ◽  
Speech And Language Therapy ◽  
Migration History

Educational equality and the reduction of discrimination are among the UN’s Sustainability Goals. Previous studies as well as policy recommendations suggest that the extent to which these are implemented in the field of speech and language therapy for multilingual children depends on sufficient knowledge and material. To this end, an online survey was carried out with 300 Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) from Austria, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland, investigating their attitudes and approaches regarding the service provision for multilingual children. Their responses were analyzed taking the SLTs’ language background, experience, and country of origin into account. Results were interpreted in the context of country-specific SLT service-related policies and SLT training as well as migration history. There seems to be a gap between the SLTs’ knowledge about the specific requirements for providing Speech Language Therapy (SLT) for multilingual children and their common practice, which—despite the continuous need of further training—points to sufficient awareness but a lack of materials or resources. We found experience in working with multilingual children to be the most influential factor on attitudes and approaches towards multilingualism. This suggests the importance of improving pre-exam and early-career professional experience to foster SLTs’ development of mindful attitudes and appropriate approaches towards multilingualism in their clinical practice.

scholarly journals Supporting speech and language therapy students in uncertain times

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Emma Gregory ◽  
Judy Clegg ◽  
Helen Cameron
Keyword(s):  
Identity Formation ◽  
Speech And Language ◽  
Language Therapy ◽  
Student Speech ◽  
Speech And Language Therapy ◽  
Therapy Education ◽  
Quality Learning ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Support Students ◽  
Collaborative Efforts

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted significantly on the provision of speech and language therapy education. In this commentary, we consider the impact of unprecedented uncertainty and disruption on the student experience. Changes made within both university and practice-based learning environments have resulted in the continuation of high-quality learning experiences enabling students to continue or complete their programmes. However, studying in uncertain times has been destabilising for students having the potential to impact on the more nuanced aspects of clinical and professional development (e.g., self-efficacy, confidence, and professional identity formation). We reflect on collaborative efforts to support students with navigating uncertainty and change and to facilitate their ongoing personal, professional and clinical development in a holistic way. There is a need for empirical research into the experiences of student speech and language therapists who have studied or are continuing to study in the context of COVID-19. Such research will help inform university and practice-based educators as well as SLT managers about the ongoing needs of this population. Dealing with uncertainty should be considered within university-based curriculum development as well as induction and supervisory systems within the workplace.

scholarly journals Trial participants’ experiences of early enhanced speech and language therapy after stroke compared with employed visitor support: a qualitative study nested within a randomized controlled trial

2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 174-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alys Young ◽  
Timothy Gomersall ◽  
Audrey Bowen ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Speech And Language ◽  
Language Therapy ◽  
Speech And Language Therapy ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Trial Participants

Objectives: To explore trial participants’ experiences of the process and outcomes of early, enhanced speech and language therapy after stroke with support from an employed visitor. Design: Qualitative study nested within a randomized controlled trial. Participants: Twney-two people who, after stroke, had a diagnosis of aphasia (12), dysarthria (5) or both (5) and who participated in the ACT NoW study. Setting: Eight English NHS usual care settings. Method: Individual interviews. Thematic content analysis assisted by a bespoke data transformation protocol for incorporating non-verbal and semantically ambiguous data. Results: Participants highly regarded regular and sustained contact with someone outside of immediate family/friends who engaged them in deliberate activities/communication in the early months after stroke. Participants identified differences in the process of intervention between speech and language therapists and employed visitors. But no major discriminations were made between the impact or value of this contact according to whether provided by a speech and language therapist or employed visitor. Participant-defined criteria for effectiveness of contact included: impact on mood and confidence, self-recognition of progress and the meeting of individual needs. Conclusions: As in the randomized controlled trial, participants reported no evidence of added benefit of early communication therapy beyond that from attention control. The findings do not imply that regular contact with any non-professional can have beneficial effects for someone with aphasia or dysarthria in the early weeks following a stroke. The study points to specific conditions that would have to be met for contact to have a positive effect.

scholarly journals 264 Incorporating Neurolinguistics and the Role of Speech and Language Therapy in a Specialist Memory Service

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii17-iii65
Author(s):  
Lisa Sheridan ◽  
Cathy McHale ◽  
Joshi Dookhy ◽  
Tara Coughlan ◽  
Desmond O'Neill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Speech And Language ◽  
Language Therapy ◽  
Unique Role ◽  
Speech And Language Therapy ◽  
Amnestic Mci ◽  
Language Difficulties ◽  
Communication Difficulties ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) is recognised as having a unique role in contributing to the overall neuropsychological assessment of people living with dementia and cognitive impairment. The role of the SLT within a memory clinic has become more widely understood. It is now recognised that speech and language characteristics are reported to be amongst the most reliable behavioural markers for distinguishing amongst different dementia subtypes, and specific analysis of a language production and delivery facilitates timely and more accurate diagnosis. Methods Patients with a language predominant presentation or those with subjective complaints of speech/language difficulties were referred for SLT assessment through the tertiary memory assessment and support service from January 2018 – March 2019. Assessment of speech and language skills, and overall cognitive communications skills were reviewed, and this information was used to aid with differential diagnosis and contribute to the person’s overall cognitive profile. The SLT attends weekly memory service interdisciplinary consensus diagnosis conference. Data was collected on these patients to observe the profiles of those patients referred to SLT. Results 22 patients were seen for full SLT assessment during this period, 13 women, 9 men; mean age 69.5 (range 48- 80). Diagnoses include: AD (32%), FTD behavioural variant (14%), Primary Progressive Aphasia (14%), Non-amnestic MCI (18%), Amnestic MCI (14%), Other neurological disorder (8%). 68% of these patients required ongoing SLT intervention for their cognitive communication difficulties following diagnosis. Conclusion SLTs fulfil an integral role in supporting both the diagnostic and post-diagnostic care pathways of people living with dementia and cognitive impairment attending memory services. SLTs have a unique role and skillset in identifying the specific nature of language difficulties for a person with dementia or cognitive impairment and in reducing the impact of the communication difficulties for the person and for their family members.

scholarly journals Impact of COVID-19 on the Speech and Language Therapy Profession and Their Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie Chadd ◽  
Kathryn Moyse ◽  
Pam Enderby
Keyword(s):  
Patient Outcomes ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Urgent Care ◽  
Speech And Language ◽  
Language Therapy ◽  
Database Analysis ◽  
Speech And Language Therapy ◽  
Multiple Challenges ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: The UK's response to the COVID-19 pandemic presented multiple challenges to healthcare services including the suspension of non-urgent care. The impact on neurorehabilitation professions, including speech and language therapy (SLT), has been substantial.Objectives: To review the changes to SLT services triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic with respect to referral rates, service delivery and outcomes, as well as examining the contribution of SLTs to the neurorehabilitation of COVID-19 patients.Methods: Two surveys were distributed to Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) members exploring experiences of service provision at 6 weeks and 22 weeks after the pandemic was declared in the UK. Responses to closed-ended questions, including questions regarding referral numbers were analyzed descriptively and compared at the two time-points. A database comprising routine clinical data from SLT services across the UK was used to compare information on patients receiving services prior to and during the pandemic. Data on COVID-19 patients was extracted, and findings are provided descriptively.Results: Referrals to SLT services during the acute COVID-19 period in the UK were substantially less than in the same period in 2019. A number of service changes were common including adopting more flexible approaches to provision (such as tele-therapy) and being unable to provide services to some patients. Database analysis suggests fewer patients have accessed SLT since the pandemic began, including a reduction in neurorehabilitation patients. For those who received SLT, the outcomes did not change. SLTs supported a range of needs of COVID-19 patients. Treatment outcomes for COVID-19 patients with dysphagia were positive.Discussion: The pandemic has affected neurorehabilitation and SLT services broadly: referral patterns are different, usual care has been disrupted and interventions have been modified affecting the impact on patient outcomes both positively and negatively. Some patients with COVID-19 require and benefit from SLT intervention.

scholarly journals Establishment of an Innovative Telehealth Speech and Language Therapy Placement as a Rapid Response to COVID-19: Sharing the Learning

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 11-20
Author(s):  
Rena Lyons ◽  
Laura Loftus ◽  
Margaret Rodden ◽  
Siobhan Ward Lynch ◽  
Sonya Gaffney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Rapid Response ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Speech And Language ◽  
Language Therapy ◽  
Clinical Placements ◽  
Speech And Language Therapy ◽  
Sustainability Challenges

The aim of this evaluation was to explore practice educators’ and speech and language therapy (SLT) students’ experiences of a rapid response telehealth placement in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to inform quality improvement. In March 2020, public health restrictions were imposed across Ireland in efforts to ‘flatten the curve’ in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. All placements were cancelled. According to an Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists survey in April 2020, 47% of SLTs were redeployed to swabbing and contact tracing roles, and many remain redeployed seven months later. This redeployment, along with strict public health measures in clinical sites, significantly reduced the availability of clinical placements. A rapid response was required to enable students to develop clinical competencies. Although telehealth has been used to deliver speech and language therapy in other countries, it had not been used routinely in service provision in Ireland. In this article, we outline how we built on existing partnerships with practice educators, both on- and off-site, to design a much-needed telehealth placement. We explored educators’ and students’ experiences using an online focus group and online survey respectively. The evaluations of practice educators were positive in that despite their initial apprehension, they reported that this placement provided valuable learning opportunities for students while also providing benefits for clients. They also reported some technological and sustainability challenges. The students also evaluated this placement positively with 83.3% of respondents rating the placement as ‘excellent ‘and 16.7% rating it as ‘good’. All stakeholders valued this learning experience.

scholarly journals Outcome measurement in speech and language therapy: a digital journey

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. e100085
Author(s):  
Kathryn Moyse ◽  
Pamela Enderby ◽  
Katie Chadd ◽  
Kamini Gadhok ◽  
Mark Bedwell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Outcome Measurement ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Speech And Language ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Language Therapy ◽  
Digital Tool ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Speech And Language Therapy ◽  
Therapy Interventions ◽  
The Impact

BackgroundEvidencing the impact of speech and language therapy interventions is challenging. The UK’s professional body for speech and language therapists (SLTs) is supporting a consistent approach to outcome measurement and analysis using Therapy Outcome Measures (TOMs).ObjectiveTo develop a digital solution for collecting TOMs data, evaluate the impact of therapeutic interventions and explore contributing factors to outcome variation across clinical areas.MethodAgile methodology was applied to software development. Organisations were recruited to provide data. Criteria were identified to exemplify outcome variability.ResultsA digital tool was developed. 21 organisations provided data on 16 356 individuals. Improvement in at least one domain of TOMs occurred in 77.1% of instances. Data for two clinical areas exemplify the tool’s effectiveness in highlighting the impact of speech and language therapy.ConclusionThis established outcomes data set can be used to evaluate the impact of speech and language therapy, and explore variation in outcomes.

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