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Interprofessional Cognitive-Communication Rehabilitation Patterns for Children and Adolescents With Acquired Brain
Marie-France Perrier1, Elena Gamm2, Anna McCormick3,4
1School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology
|July 30, 2025
Summary
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are underinvolved in pediatric acquired brain injury (ABI) rehabilitation. Enhanced interprofessional collaboration and education are crucial for managing cognitive-communication disorders in children with ABI.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric rehabilitation medicine
- Neuroscience
- Speech-language pathology
Background:
- Cognitive-communication disorders are common after pediatric acquired brain injury (ABI).
- Current management and service provision by healthcare professionals are not well understood.
- Interprofessional collaboration is essential for comprehensive care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore interprofessional cognitive-communication rehabilitation practices for children and adolescents with ABI.
- To describe current assessment and treatment patterns.
- To reinforce the critical role of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in managing these disorders.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective medical chart review of 30 consecutive pediatric admissions with ABI.
- Inclusion of patients aged 2-17 years.
- Extraction of data on demographics, cognitive-communication assessments, treatments, and interprofessional collaboration.
Main Results:
- Wide variation in patient age, injury mechanism, and severity.
- Extensive involvement of physicians, nurses, and neuropsychologists.
- Limited involvement of SLPs, despite being part of the interdisciplinary team.
- Infrequent interprofessional collaboration, particularly with SLPs.
Conclusions:
- Significant lack of SLP involvement in inpatient pediatric ABI rehabilitation.
- Need for enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration and education on cognitive-communication disorders.
- Advocacy for the role of SLPs is essential for comprehensive care.
- Future research should identify barriers and facilitators to interprofessional practice.
