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Service delivery and intervention intensity for phonology-based speech sound disorders
Eleanor Sugden1,2, Elise Baker2, Natalie Munro2
1School of Psychological Sciences and Health, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.
Speech and language therapists (SLTs) often provide less intensive interventions for children with phonology-based speech sound disorders (SSD) than research suggests. This gap highlights challenges in applying evidence-based practices in real-world clinical settings.
Area of Science:
- Speech-language pathology
- Pediatric audiology
- Developmental pediatrics
Background:
- Children with phonology-based speech sound disorders (SSD) require evidence-based intervention services.
- Speech and language therapists (SLTs) must integrate research on service delivery and intervention intensity.
- Optimal intervention intensity for phonological disorders is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review external evidence on service delivery and intervention intensity for phonological interventions.
- To investigate Australian SLTs' clinical practices regarding service delivery and intensity for children with phonology-based SSD.
- To bridge the gap between research evidence and clinical practice.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review of 199 phonological intervention studies (1979-2016) was conducted.
- An online survey of 288 Australian SLTs assessed current clinical practices.
- Data extracted included service delivery models and intervention intensity metrics.
Main Results:
- Published research typically recommends 2-3 weekly sessions, individual delivery, 30-60 min duration, and 100 production trials.
- SLTs reported providing services at lower intensities than documented in research.
- Workplace, client, and clinician factors influence intervention intensity.
Conclusions:
- A discrepancy exists between research evidence and clinical practice regarding intervention intensity for phonology-based SSD.
- Incomplete reporting of intervention intensity in research hinders evidence-based practice implementation.
- Further research is needed on feasible, innovative service delivery solutions for SLTs.
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