Theory and practice in speech-language pathology: a review of systemic principles

Linear, cause-effect reasoning has dominated the training and clinical practice of speech-language pathology for many years. Recently, however, the roles of many speech-language clinicians and the contexts in which they provide their clinical services have been changing, and traditional ways of viewing clinical work no longer seem to apply. This article applies principles of systems theory to such changes and advocates an integration of these principles with those of traditional, linear views to achieve a better understanding of this evolution in the clinical practice of speech-language pathology.