From Clinic to Real Life: Speech-Language Therapists' Perspectives on Extratherapy Generalization in Children With...

Area of Science:

• Speech-language pathology
• Pediatric audiology
• Developmental pediatrics

Background:

• Extratherapy generalization is vital for children with cleft palate (CP ± L) to transfer speech skills to real-world settings.
• This crucial aspect of therapy remains underexplored in the CP ± L population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore speech-language pathologists' (SLPs) experiences and strategies for achieving extratherapy generalization in children with CP ± L.
• To understand how SLPs structure treatment to facilitate the transfer of learned sounds to spontaneous speech.

Main Methods:

• Inclusion of 14 SLPs (aged 29–49) from primary healthcare settings with private practices.
• Semistructured interviews to gather insights on extratherapy generalization experiences.
• Inductive thematic analysis supported by researcher triangulation, negative case analysis, and member checking for trustworthiness.

Main Results:

• Four themes emerged: Parental/Environmental Support, Child's Motivation, Integrating Therapy into Daily Life, and SLPs' Responsibility.
• Parental involvement and positive social experiences are crucial for bridging therapy and real-life communication.
• Intrinsic motivation and integrating therapy into routines are more effective for long-term success than external rewards.

Conclusions:

• A child-centered approach is more effective than a therapist-driven model for extratherapy generalization.
• Fostering intrinsic motivation and a growth mindset is essential for long-term success.
• Balancing support with autonomy empowers children to apply speech skills independently, improving therapy outcomes.