Evidence-based practice and speech-language pathology: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats

Speech-language pathologists are increasingly required to demonstrate that their practice is based on evidence. While the concept of evidence-based practice has strengths, there have been some weaknesses in its application in speech-language pathology. Nevertheless, since current health care demands compliance, the profession must consider the opportunities and threats that evidence-based practice poses. This paper reviews the literature to provide an understanding of the relevance of evidence-based practice for speech-language pathology. It considers the assumptions on which definitions of evidenced-based practice rely and reviews the ways in which clinicians might base their practice on evidence. While the medical model of evidence-based practice research is controversial even in the medical field, the concept provides opportunities for the profession of speech-language pathology. Evidence-based practice has the potential to improve intervention for people with communication disorders, increase resources for services and enhance perception of the profession.