The current practices of Australian speech-language pathologists in providing communication services to children with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

Purpose

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) is fundamental to speech-language pathology practice. Australian speech-language pathologists (SLPs) who treat communication disorders in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face unique challenges in implementing EBP. Challenges may include selecting an intervention from a myriad of available interventions for use within a complex population. Identification of current practices of Australian SLPs in communication service provision to children with ASD will provide a baseline for use of EBP and may guide future efforts to engage in EBP.

Method

A total of 109 Australian SLPs who provide communication services to children with ASD completed an online survey. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse service delivery and participant experiences of EBP.

Result

The most common barrier to delivering EBP was inadequate resources. The most utilised strategy was discussing evidence with colleagues. Most participants reported using therapies which did not adhere to a standard protocol, such as eclectic approaches. The majority also reported use of outcome measures which they believe adequately represent functional communication changes for their client.

Conclusion

Resource limitations may result in over-reliance on interventions lacking empirical support and over-reliance on subjective outcome measurement tools. Reflective practice and self-evaluation of communication services to children with ASD may support improved provision of EBP.

Keywords:

• evidence-based practice
• autism spectrum disorder
• communication
• service delivery
• speech-language pathology
• outcome measurement

Declaration of interest

The authors report no declarations of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Notes

1 Search 1 was conducted on the 6/12/20 using speechBITE database and the filters “autism spectrum disorders” “children” and “systematic review”. The search yielded 127 results.

2 Search 2 used the filter “cerebral palsy” which yielded 44 results. Search 3 used the filter “cancer” and yielded 2 results. Both searches occurred on the 6/12/20 using the database speechBITE. The additional filters “children” and “systematic review” were uniformly applied.

3 Chi square test of independence not completed.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Speech Pathology Australia New Researcher Grant 2017.