The nature of outcomes assessment in speech-language pathology

In this article, the clinician/researcher dichotomy as it exists for speech-language pathology will be presented, followed by a discussion of the concept of clinical significance. Several clinical effectiveness studies will be discussed, with an emphasis on descriptive follow-up studies--one of the most prevalent types of clinical effectiveness studies used by speech-language pathologists. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's (ASHA) task force on treatment outcomes and cost effectiveness, developed to generate an efficacy database for speech-language pathologists, will be discussed. In addition, implications for the education of speech-language pathologists with respect to outcomes will be discussed, including areas such as course content, clinical practicums, future research needs, and continuing education. Finally, future needs in the area of outcomes assessment in speech-language pathology will be presented, particularly the need for improved measurements, follow-up studies, and further initiatives by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.