This statement by a committee of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association defines the scope of practice in speech-language pathology. It covers purpose, a framework for practice, education and qualifications, scope of practice, professional roles and activities, and practice settings. (Contains references.) (DB)

Telecommunications Relay Service provides full telephone accessibility to people who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, or speech-disabled. Specially trained Communication Assistants (CAs) serve as intermediaries, relaying conversations between hearing persons and persons using a text telephone device (TTY). Relay Service is available 24 hours…

This book examines the phonological development and impairment of Chinese-speaking children. It contains a series of studies of phonological acquisition and development of children in specific contexts (Putonghua or Modern Standard Chinese, the language variety promoted by the Chinese government, and normally developing children, children with…

A survey of speech and hearing difficulties exhibited by children in 73 government primary schools in Barbados was conducted. Approximately 5 percent of the children were found to have hearing difficulties and 24 percent to have speech difficulties, higher than that of some other countries. Recommendations are discussed. (Contains references.) (CR)

Daily communication journals are a powerful tool to promote communication development in children with severe disabilities. Each page of the daily journal features three parts: a print or braille label, a recording device, and a tangible symbol. Children should participate in both the preparation of the daily journal and its review, thus gaining…

Studies have shown that some children are at higher risk for otitis media. Those at risk may include children with some developmental disorders such as Down syndrome, Williams syndrome, Apert syndrome, fragile X syndrome, Turner syndrome, cleft palate, and autism; as well as all children attending childcare. It has been hypothesized that the link…

The vocalizations and speech production of 20 infants with hearing impairments were examined at three age levels: between 5-13 months, 2-5 years, and 5-10 years. Degree of hearing loss had a significant and moderately strong relationship with speech outcome at the second and third age levels. (Contains extensive references.) (Author/CR)

Examines issues related to designing and conducting randomized studies of speech/language treatment effects (clinical trials) in the public school setting and provides suggestions regarding how such studies can be effectively organized and implemented in schools by clinicians. The work of the Communication Sciences and Disorders Research Group in…

Adaptive technology offers people with disabilities the opportunity not just to use computers, but to use computers to complete tasks that were previously not possible for them. Computers can be used to assist individuals with speech or writing impairments, physical or mobility impairments, visual impairments, and learning disabilities. (Author/JL)

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,…

A study used the Three-Interval Forced-Choice Test of Speech Pattern Contrast Perception (THRIFT) to examine sensory-level speech-perception performance under the input modalities of hearing alone, speech-reading alone, and the two combined in 44 children (ages 5-10). Within each condition there were significant influences of age on performance…

This article addresses the mutual needs of speech-language pathologists and educational interpreters in providing services to their students. Guidelines supported by recent research reports and survey data collected from interpreters are offered to speech-language pathologists as ways to improve the working relationship with educational…

Provides definitions of various types of studies used to measure the impact of interventions with children having speech, language, and hearing disorders. Describes studies initiated by the American Speech Language Hearing Association to evaluate various interventions. (DB)

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)