This article urges speech language pathologists (SLPs) to avoid the tutoring role in the effort to provide individualized services to children in regular classroom settings. Suggested alternatives to the tutoring role include acting in a consultative role to help modify classroom practices early in the year and later on providing direct services…

Discussion of whether information technology can play a significant role in improving the quality of life for people with severe learning difficulties focuses on a study in the United Kingdom that investigated the use of customized hypermedia and a speech synthesis system with an individual who has severe communication problems. (Contains 10…

This article summarizes findings of studies on speech-language pathologists with varying levels of clinical experience, presents a working model of clinical expertise, offers comments concerning the development and maintenance of clinical expertise, and identifies some problems with research in this area. An appendix lists knowledge, skills,…

Examines the integration of health care and education in the schools with the advent of managed care. Effects of these changes, such as schools billing health care third-party payors and the expansion of speech language services to areas such as dysphagia and alternative/augmentative communication, are discussed. (DB)

Emphasizes the importance of collecting data on the prevalence of specific communication disorders in children and data on both the short-term and long-term impact of speech/language interventions in the schools. (Author/DB)

This article on speech-language therapy argues that new emphases on the client's life participation, involvement in clinical decision making, and cultural sensitivity should be seen as additions rather than alternatives to therapeutic impairment-oriented approaches. It proposes that the client's progression toward life goals be the standard used…

This cooperative report of seven associations of special educators and related professionals provides guidelines for using a paraprofessional service delivery model in providing speech language services in educational settings. It identifies three levels of paraprofessionals, recommends requirements for each level, and addresses activities outside…

This article examines the implications of the British Code of Practice (which provides guidelines for the identification, assessment, and service provision of children with special educational needs) for children with speech and language difficulties. The confusion engendered by the code's guidance regarding provision of speech therapy as either…

Notes inherent differences between clinical practice and experimental research in speech-language intervention. It suggests that nonexperimental research can be a link between experimental investigation and clinical application. Both researchers and practicing professionals are urged to work in a complementary manner to develop effective…

Urges audiologists and speech-language pathologists working in school settings to become involved in studies of treatment outcomes and clinical trials. (DB)

This article discusses the risks involved for speech-pathologists in making choices about controversial practices and offers a clinical practice framework for gathering information about controversial approaches and for implementing and motioning their use. The framework is illustrated using facilitated communication as an example of a…

This epilogue discusses potentials in future clinical decision-making using the emerging functional neuroimaging technology, including identification of the mechanisms underlying cognitive functions and prediction of spared/impaired cognitive functions, those related to recovery of function and prediction of treatment candidacy; and those related…

This introduction to a clinical forum on children with speech, language, and hearing difficulties focuses on assessment validity. The paper emphasizes that assessment validity depends on the purpose for which the clinician employs the assessment and the inferences the clinician intends to draw, and that assessment interpretation involves degrees…

This case study describes the experiences of a newly graduated speech-language pathologist working in a small urban school district with a series of speech-language assistants who have various levels of qualifications and personality types. It illustrates how professional supervision skills, preservice paraprofessional training,…

Personal observations and reflections recount the first year of experience of a team of two doctoral students specializing in speech-language pathology and early childhood special education. The students were selected to supervise master-level students in training. Aspects of interdisciplinary collaboration, stages of team development, and…