Speech-Language Pathologists' Perceptions of School-Based Services for Children With Hearing Loss

Area of Science:

• Speech-Language Pathology
• Audiology
• Educational Psychology

Background:

• Children with hearing loss require multidisciplinary teams for optimal support.
• The collaboration between speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and educational audiologists is crucial in school settings.
• Understanding SLP perceptions of this collaboration is vital for improving interprofessional practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate school-based SLPs' perceptions of their access to and involvement with educational audiologists.
• To assess SLPs' views on their working relationships with educational audiologists.
• To identify factors influencing interprofessional collaboration in schools.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was designed and administered to school-based SLPs in North Carolina.
• Data collected focused on SLPs' experiences with educational audiologists.
• Statistical analysis was used to examine access, involvement, and relationship perceptions.

Main Results:

• A significant variation in the access to and involvement of educational audiologists was observed across North Carolina.
• SLPs generally reported positive working relationships with educational audiologists.
• The perceived fairness of workload distribution between SLPs and audiologists was positive.

Conclusions:

• This study provides insights into the current state of interprofessional practice between SLPs and educational audiologists in schools.
• Perceptions of collaboration highlight areas of strength and potential for improvement in service delivery for children with hearing loss.
• Positive working relationships suggest a foundation for effective teamwork, though access and involvement disparities need addressing.