Dialogue in practice: How can reimagining 'communication' re-envision speech-language pathology?

Area of Science:

• Speech-language pathology
• Sociology
• Philosophy

Background:

• Traditional speech-language pathology relies on sender-receiver models and medicalized frameworks.
• These models often underrepresent relational, social, and embodied aspects of communication.
• Current approaches may limit understanding of everyday communication participation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To expand theoretical foundations of speech-language pathology through dialogic, sociological, and philosophical perspectives.
• To explore communication as a dynamic, co-constructed, and polyphonic process.
• To enrich contemporary clinical practice by incorporating these broader theoretical views.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research methodology.
• Reflection on three research projects involving individuals with communication disabilities.
• Application of dialogic concepts to analyze clinical practice.

Main Results:

• Dialogic concepts illuminate aspects of practice difficult to capture with conventional frameworks.
• Key illuminated aspects include relational attunement, embodied knowledge, ethical responsiveness, and co-construction of meaning.
• Dialogic conceptualizations provide a broader professional vision for speech-language pathologists.

Conclusions:

• Dialogic conceptualizations shift practice beyond impairment-focused models towards collaborative, person-centered, and contextually situated approaches.
• Dialogism offers concepts to advance assessment, intervention, professional education, and research in speech-language pathology.
• Increased engagement with theory supports more ethical, creative, and inclusive communication support practices.