Translating research into practice
JCPSLP
Volume 16, Number 1 2014
43
Translating research into
practice top 10 resources
Amy Rynsent
which found evidence to suggest that BLADES therapy is
an effective language therapy option for children aged
between 2 and 5 years.
5 Speech Pathology Australia
Evidence Alerts
Members of Speech Pathology Australia receive monthly
“Evidence-Based Practice Alerts” via email that promote the
use of evidence-based practice and make it easier for
time-poor clinicians to access information. Previous
“Evidence-Based Practice Alerts” can be accessed at
/
6 speechBITE Database for Best
Interventions and Treatment Efficacy
(available at
)
M
aroondah Hospital Community Health Paediatric
Speech Pathology Service assists children
who have speech, language, feeding, and/
or communication difficulties. A shared focus within the
department is to regularly consult the current literature
in order to keep abreast of new and evidence-based
practices. Senior speech pathologist Amy Rynsent and
her colleagues Brianna Bell and Venetia Su have identified
their top ten strategies and resources that are informed by
research in the field of paediatric speech pathology.
1 Evidence-based practice principles
Speech pathologists at Maroondah Hospital Community
Health Speech Pathology utilise evidence-based practice
principles when evaluating the literature and applying new
ideas in clinical practice. Staff regularly pose clinical
questions within an evidence-based practice working party
and consult the literature in order to make informed clinical
decisions that incorporate the highest level of evidence
available.
2 Clinical Evaluation of Language
Fundamentals Preschool – Fourth
edition, Australian and New Zealand
(Wiig, Secord and Semel, 2006)
(available via
)
This assessment tool allows the examiner to evaluate
the language skills of children aged between 3 and 6 years
of age and, importantly, has been standardised to include
norms referenced on an Australian paediatric population.
Staff at Maroondah Hospital use this resource to assess the
language strengths and weaknesses of preschool children
and to assist in goal-setting.
3 Diagnostic Evaluation of Articulation
and Phonology
(Dodd, et al, 2006)
(available via
)
This standardised assessment is used to evaluate the
nature of children’s speech sound errors from an articulation
and phonological perspective. The DEAP assesses speech
sounds in words and connected speech, phonological
processes and contains an oral motor screen. Using this
assessment allows speech pathologists to categorise
speech sound disorders. By classifying speech sound
disorders, the speech pathology team at Maroondah has
been better able to select the most effective and efficient
treatment options, ensuring better outcomes for patients.
4 BLADES Language Therapy
The speech pathologists at Maroondah Hospital have used
information presented in BLADES Language Therapy
workshops presented by speech pathologist Melanie
Sherwood. A small review of the current literature has been
conducted by the Maroondah speech pathology team
speechBITE is a web-based database that provides
free access to citations and abstracts relevant to the
field of speech pathology. Information in speechBITE
has been catalogued with reference to levels of evidence
such as randomised controlled trials versus single case
experimental designs to assist speech pathologists in their
clinical decision-making.
7 The Lidcombe Parent Support Groups
Recent research (Goodhue et al., 2010) has provided good
evidence to advocate for the use of parent support groups
for families undertaking the Lidcombe program. Speech
pathology clinicians at Maroondah Hospital hypothesised that
this may increase adherence to the program methodology.
A parent support group was conducted by paediatric
speech pathologists at Maroondah and a report on the
group was presented at last year’s SPA Conference.
Parents enjoyed being provided with opportunities to
liaise with other families who were going through similar
experiences and it was found that parents’ motivation and
understanding of the program increased after participating
in parent support groups.
