scholarly journals Inequity and the Professionalisation of Speech-Language Pathology

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen Abrahams ◽  
Harsha Kathard ◽  
Michal Harty ◽  
Mershen Pillay
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Medical Model ◽  
Social Embeddedness ◽  
Speech Language Pathology ◽  
Current Form ◽  
Majority Population ◽  
Language Pathology ◽  
History Of ◽  
Communication Challenges

As a profession, speech-language pathology (SLP) continues to struggle with equitable service delivery to both people with communication challenges and disabilities. SLP clinical practice in its traditional form has an individual focus and therefore cannot adequately serve the large population in need, which, in South Africa is the majority population. Using the concept of social embeddedness of professions as a guiding frame, the article explores the history of the profession and the influence of the medical model and coloniality in shaping SLP profession’s knowledge and practices. As such, we argue that professionalisation in its current form perpetuates injustice. The article proposes innovation across clinical practice, education and research as leverage points for imagining new practices.

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.

Assistive Technology for Cognition: Perspectives on Funding

2013 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 84-89
Author(s):  
Kathy de Domingo
Keyword(s):  
Assistive Technology ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Personal Digital Assistants ◽  
Speech Language Pathology ◽  
Prosthetic Devices ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
Ankle Foot Orthoses ◽  
Language Pathology ◽  
Communication Challenges

Physical and occupational therapists commonly provide services that incorporate prosthetic and orthotic devices such as crutches, canes, reachers, and ankle–foot orthoses to support mobility and activities of daily living (ADLs). Likewise, speech-language pathologists provide services incorporating prosthetic devices to support communication such as an electrolarynx, microcomputers, and mobile devices and apps with voice output capability. Assistive technology for cognition (ATC) includes the use of personal digital assistants (PDAs), tablets, and smart phones — cognitive prostheses — to compensate for cognitive challenges following acquired brain injury (ABI). Whereas funding sources for devices and services that support/compensate for mobility, ADLs, and communication challenges are generally well established, funding for ATC devices and services is relatively new to the field of speech-language pathology. This article explores the funding aspect of ATC devices and services.

Special Considerations for Evaluation and Treatment of Spanish-Speaking Patients with Cleft Palate

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. 41-49
Author(s):  
Ellen Moore
Keyword(s):  
Cleft Palate ◽  
The United States ◽  
Culturally Competent ◽  
Speech Language Pathology ◽  
Spanish Speaking ◽  
Appropriate Treatment ◽  
Oral Pressure ◽  
Language Pathology ◽  
History Of ◽  
Spanish Speaking Population

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.

Toward a Speech Sciences Community

2012 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-20
Author(s):  
Donald Finan ◽  
Stephen M. Tasko
Keyword(s):  
Science Research ◽  
Knowledge Generation ◽  
Speech Language Pathology ◽  
Mandated Curriculum ◽  
Professional Discipline ◽  
Common Area ◽  
Language Pathology ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Common ◽  
Speech Science

The history of speech-language pathology as a profession encompasses a tradition of knowledge generation. In recent years, the quantity of speech science research and the presence of speech scientists within the domain of the American Speech-Hearing-Language Association (ASHA) has diminished, even as ASHA membership and the size of the ASHA Convention have grown dramatically. The professional discipline of speech science has become increasingly fragmented, yet speech science coursework is an integral part of the mandated curriculum. Establishing an active, vibrant community structure will serve to aid researchers, educators, and clinicians as they work in the common area of speech science.

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