The Handbook For Evidence Based Practice In Communication Disorders

Written for speech-language pathologists, this book demonstrates how to apply current best evidence in making critical decisions about the care of individual patients, be it screening, diagnosis or treatment of communication disorders.

This student-friendly text that explores the connection between common communication science research methods and clinical practice. Covering both the conceptual and the quantitative aspects of research methods, evidence-based practice, experimental design, and statistics, this book both elucidates various models of research and practice and explains how these models are important to the greater field of communication science. While some students and practitioners find many books on research, evidence-based practice, and statistical concepts to be intimidating, abstract, and dry, this text strives to emphasize not only the ideas surrounding evidence-based practice but also how its principles can be applied in clinical practice.

"A thorough introduction to communication sciences and disorders designed for undergraduate-level students"--Publisher's website.

Like all health professionals, speech and language therapists (SLTs) need to keep themselves up-to-date with the research evidence base that is relevant to their field of practice and be able to show how this contributes to their clinical decision-making. However, it is not always clear to practitioners how evidence-based practice (EBP) can be properly embedded in their day-to-day activities. In this valuable book, Hazel Roddam and Jemma Skeat present a wealth of instructive examples by SLT contributors from around the world, showing how clinicians, educators, and researchers have risen to the EBP challenge. Embedding evidence-based practice in speech and language therapy showcases the creative ways that SLTs are developing knowledge and skills for EBP, creating contexts that support the use of evidence in practice, and working towards making evidence easily accessible and usable. It includes real-life examples of how SLTs have encountered a clinical problem or situation and have accessed and used the evidence within their day-to-day practice. The contributors come from a wide range of work settings, from services situated within large organizations to those in independent practice, and represent a range of clinical areas, from paediatric to adult and across speech, language, voice, fluency, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), and dysphagia. This book is written for an audience of clinical practitioners, at any stage of their career, and is additionally a valuable resource for SLT students and lecturers.

"This handbook is designed for use by practicing professionals who are charged with accommodating the needs of students having emotional and behavioral disorders and problems within the context of schooling. This handbook consists of 32 chapters and is divided into six sections:(1) foundations, (2) screening, performance monitoring, and assessment, (3) interventions targeting specific disorders, settings and/or developmental levels, (4) generic intervention approaches, (5) early intervention, and (6) research. The editors view the book as a compendium of accessible best practices that, if practitioners adopt and apply with high levels of treatment integrity, will produce a strong impact on the emotional and behavioral problems that challenge the school success of EBD students"--

Introduction to Communication Disorders: A Lifespan Perspective presents an informative overview of the fields of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology in an interesting and highly readable manner. This text provides a solid foundation for future study by providing many viewpoints for the introductory student, offering personal stories of people with communication disorders, and examining the field from a lifespan perspective. In addition, the best models of good practice and approaches for assessment and intervention are discussed based on the authors' own clinical experience. Each chapter describes a specific disorder and related assessment and intervention methods. Each disorder is also illustrated by the personal story of an individual with that disorder. Reader interest and thought are stimulated by thought questions placed throughout each chapter and by margin notes that highlight important information. The suggested readings and Internet locations provided at the conclusion of each chapter provide additional avenues by which students can gain further knowledge. Unlike any other text currently available, Introduction to Communication Disorders features an accompanying CD-ROM a learning device and study tool which presents many of the disorders students read about in sound and video format. In addition, self-study questions follow the outline of each chapter and highlight important information.

The Routledge Handbook of Communication Disorders provides an update on key issues and research in the clinical application of the speech, language and hearing sciences in both children and adults. Focusing on areas of cutting-edge research, this handbook showcases what we know about communication disorders, and their assessment and treatment. It emphasizes the application of theory to clinical practice throughout, and is arranged by the four key bases of communication impairments: Neural/Genetic Bases Perceptual-Motor Bases Cognitive-Linguistic Bases Socio-Cultural Bases. The handbook ends with an integrative section, which looks at innovative ways of working across domains to arrive at novel assessment and treatment ideas. It is an important reference work for researchers, students and practitioners working in communication science and speech and language therapy.