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Published (Version of record)CC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open
Journal article
Factors affecting speech-language pathologists' language assessment procedures and tools - challenges and future directions in Sweden
Logopedics, phoniatrics, vocology, Vol.49(3), pp.104-113
2024
PMID: 36576225
Appears in Recent Faculty of Health Publications
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Abstract
Purpose: National surveys of speech-language pathologists' (SLP) practices play an important role in professional development, and previous research show that many challenges faced by the profession are similar across the globe. This study aims to describe Swedish SLP assessment practices, examine factors that may affect this practice, and discuss the results in the light of international studies.
Methods: Data from 584 SLPs were collected through an online questionnaire with multiple choice and open-ended questions. A mixed-method design was deployed where a deductive qualitative analysis of free-text responses complemented quantitative data.
Results: In line with previous results from English-speaking countries, both standardized discrete skill tests and contextualized assessments were used by the respondents but fewer used language sample analysis and dynamic assessment procedures, despite international recommendations. There were few differences based on experience, work setting, proportion of multilingual assessments and socio-economic status of the health catchment area. Main challenges reported were lack of time and difficulty prioritizing, and assessment and/or diagnosis of multilingual/L2 children, which is similar to challenges faced by SLPs in other countries. Swedish SLPs also reported lack of national clinical guidelines as a main challenge. Factors contributing to better assessments included experience, and the combination of many sources of information, including professional and interprofessional discussions.
Conclusions: The accumulated evidence from this and previous studies show that to address challenges and build on strengths, changes on a systemic level are needed. This includes more time and resources for continuing education and implementation of recommended assessment methods, as well as professional and interprofessional collaborations.
Details
- Title
- Factors affecting speech-language pathologists' language assessment procedures and tools - challenges and future directions in Sweden
- Creators
- Anna Eva Hallin - Karolinska InstitutetPetri Partanen - Mid Sweden University/Mittuniversitetet (Swedan)
- Publication Details
- Logopedics, phoniatrics, vocology, Vol.49(3), pp.104-113
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- Number of pages
- 10
- Identifiers
- 991013296652502368
- Copyright
- © 2022 The Author(s).
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Health
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article