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- Title
Differences in Child Language Assessment Practices Between School-Based and Non--School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists: Results From a Nationwide Survey.
- Authors
Fulcher-Rood, Katrina; Castilla-Earls, Anny
- Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare child language assessment practices of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) working in school and nonschool settings to determine if their place of employment impacts the diagnostic decision-making process. Method: School-based SLPs (e.g., direct service providers employed in preschool and/or K--12 schools; n = 382) and non--school-based SLPs (e.g., direct service providers employed in private practices, university clinics, and/or medical settings; n = 147) completed a web-based questionnaire. The questionnaire examined the types, frequency, and perceived importance of specific assessment tools and potential workplace factors that may impact their diagnostic decision-making process. Results: Both school-based and non--school-based SLPs reported using a combination of assessment tools when evaluating children with potential language disorders. School-based SLPs tended to rank the frequency of use and importance of most assessment tools similarly, while non--school-based SLPs ranked interviews as the most frequently used and most important assessment tool. Statistically significant group differences indicated that school-based SLPs ranked the frequency of use and importance of standardized testing higher compared to their non--school-based counterparts. Also, school-based SLPs rated employment-based factors impacting diagnostic decision making higher compared to non--school-based SLPs. Conclusions: SLPs practicing in school-based settings seem to handle more employment-based factors that impact independent diagnostic decision making than SLPs working in different employment settings when assessing children for potential language disorders. Clinical recommendations are provided, and implications for implementation-based assessment research in child language are discussed.
- Subjects
NONPARAMETRIC statistics; SPEECH evaluation; MANN Whitney U Test; INTERVIEWING; SURVEYS; T-test (Statistics); SCHOOLS; DECISION making; QUESTIONNAIRES; DATA analysis software; LANGUAGE disorders
- Publication
Language, Speech & Hearing Services in Schools, 2023, Vol 54, Issue 4, p1117
- ISSN
0161-1461
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1044/2023_LSHSS-22-00185