Perspectives of Indian speech language pathologists towards assessing adolescents with language impairments

ABSTRACT Purpose Perspective-based studies have been carried out on health professionals to create clinical implications that will positively impact the healthcare system. There are no such studies exploring the perspectives of Indian speech language pathologists (SLPs) towards handling adolescents with language impairments. Therefore, the current study aims to explore the perspectives of Indian SLPs on the assessment of adolescent language. Methods The study followed a cross-sectional study design following a non-random convenient sampling procedure. A total number of 102 SLPs participated in the study. Phase 1 comprised developing a questionnaire to identify the perspectives of SLPs towards the assessment of adolescents with language impairments. A total of 9 questions were formulated for the same. Phase 2 included the data collection which was conducted through an online survey. Phase 3 focused on the data analysis. Descriptive statistics were to determine the mean and SD for continuous variables, and frequency and percentage for discrete variables. Results The current study results indicated significant disparities in the perspectives of SLPs towards adolescent language assessment. An overall level of poor awareness and a superficial understanding of the core area (about adolescence, and the areas and tools for assessment) was evident. Conclusion Understanding the perspectives of SLPs towards adolescent language assessment is critical in paving the way for future clinical development and research.

Exploring the attitudes and practices among student clinicians in India on multilingual issues in the field of speech-language pathology

ABSTRACT Purpose Student clinicians (graduates and undergraduates) in speech-language pathology deal with various multilingual issues while providing clinical services to individuals with language impairments. This study explores the attitudes and practices of undergraduate and graduate speech-language pathology students in India towards multilingualism and handling these issues. Methods One hundred and twenty-eight students (71 graduates and 57 undergraduates) participated in the study. Phase 1 of the study included the development of a questionnaire to explore the attitudes and practices of student clinicians in speech-language pathology. The questionnaire was converted into an online survey in Phase 2. Phase 3 comprised data and statistical analysis to summarize and interpret collected data. Results Graduate and undergraduate students significantly differed in their attitudes and perception toward multilingual issues (p<0.05). Most clinicians demanded a change in the current views on assessment/intervention, considering the linguistic background of the patient/caregivers. Other issues surrounding multilingualism included parents' education levels, lack of sufficient assessment tools, unavailability of translators/interpreters, and poor linguistic competency of clinicians. Conclusion These findings assist academic programs in planning and developing modules to aid students in handling the major multilingual issues encountered during clinical interactions.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Speech Language Pathologists in India about Telerehabilitation Services during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT Purpose The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has opened opportunities for service providers and patients to continue with clinical services in certain extraordinary settings and circumstances. Telerehabilitation in the field of speech language pathology in India is still at its infancy, with a majority of the Speech Language Pathologists (SLP) accustomed with the conventional face-to-face system of service delivery. The present study aims to gather the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of SLPs in India regarding telerehabilitation services during the pandemic. Methods The study was conducted in three phases: phase I involved the development and validation of a questionnaire to explore the KAP of SLPs regarding telerehabilitation services. The items were framed based on a Likert rating scale (strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, and strongly disagree), yes-no-maybe format, open-ended, and multiple-choice format. Phase II involved data collection, while phase III involved data analysis. Descriptive statistics was done to derive the frequency and percentage for discrete variables and mean and SD for continuous variables. Results Many SLPs feel underprepared in their technical knowledge and skills needed for telerehabilitation. Furthermore, a majority of the SLPs also did report patients to be relatively lesser motivated and satisfied with tele practices due to issues that are discussed in the paper. Conclusion This study is an initial attempt to touch upon the fabric of telerehabilitation services delivered by SLPs of India. Future studies are directed to study the technical, professional, and personal issues encountered during telerehabilitation services specifically pertaining to specific communication disabilities.