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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and the UK government's subsequent coronavirus action plan have fundamentally impacted on every aspect of healthcare. One area that is severely affected is ear, nose and throat (ENT)/laryngology where speech and language therapists (SLTs) engage in a diverse range of practice with patients with a range of conditions, including voice disorders, airway problems, and head and neck cancers (HNCs). A large majority of these patients are in high-risk categories, and many specialized clinical practices are vulnerable. In addition, workforce and research issues are challenged in both the immediate context and the future. Aims: To discuss the threats and opportunities from the COVID-19 pandemic for SLTs in ENT/laryngology with specific reference to clinical practice, workforce and research leadership. Methods & Procedures: The relevant sections of the World Health Organisation's (WHO) health systems building blocks framework (2007) were used to structure the study. Expert agreement was determined by an iterative process of multiple-group discussions, the use of all recent relevant policy documentation, and other literature and shared documentation/writing. The final paper was verified and agreed by all authors. Main Contribution: The main threats to ENT/laryngology SLT clinical services include increased patient complexity related to COVID-19 voice and airway problems, delayed HNC diagnosis, reduced access to instrumental procedures and inequitable care provision. The main clinical opportunities include the potential for new modes of service delivery and collaborations, and harnessing SLT expertise in non-instrumental assessment. There are several workforce issues, including redeployment (and impact on current services), training implications and psychological impact on staff. Workforce opportunities exist for service innovation and potential extended ENT/SLT practice roles. Research is threatened by a reduction in immediate funding calls and high competition. Current research is affected by very limited access to participants and the ability to conduct face-to-face and instrumental assessments. However, research opportunities may result in greater collaboration, and changes in service delivery necessitate robust investigation and evaluation. A new national set of research priorities is likely to emerge. Conclusions & Implications: The immediate impact of the pandemic has resulted in major disruption to all aspects of clinical delivery, workforce and research for ENT/laryngology SLT. It is unclear when any of these areas will resume operations and whether permanent changes to clinical practice, professional remits and research priorities will follow. However, significant opportunity exists in the post-COVID era to re-evaluate current practice, embrace opportunities and evaluate new ways of working.

Background: Existing evidence suggests that clinician and organization engagement in research can improve healthcare processes of care and outcomes. However, current evidence has considered the relationship across all healthcare professions collectively. With the increase in allied health clinical academic and research activity, it is imperative for healthcare organizations, leaders and managers to understand engagement in research within these specific clinical fields. This systematic review aims to identify the effect of engagement in research by allied health professionals (AHPs) and organizations on healthcare performance. Methods: This systematic review has a two‐stage search strategy. The first stage will be to screen a previous systematic review examining the effectiveness of engagement in research in health and social care to identify relevant papers published pre‐2012. The search strategy used in the previous review will then be rerun, but with a specific focus on allied health. This multi‐database search will identify publications from 2012 to date. Only studies that assessed the effectiveness of allied health engagement in research will be included. All stages of the review will be conducted by two reviewers independently, plus documented discussions with the wider research team when discrepancies occur. This systematic review protocol follows the EQUATOR reporting guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses for Protocols (PRISMA‐P). Discussion: The findings of this review will make a significant contribution to the evidence base around the effect of allied health engagement in research on healthcare performance. It will provide insights for clinicians and managers looking to understand the consequences of developing AHP research capability and capacity. The findings of this review will also aim to make recommendations for future evaluation approaches for engagement in research interventions. Trial registration: This systematic review protocol has been registered with PROSPERO, registration number CRD42021253461. What this paper adds: What is already known on the subject: This study will provide valuable evidence for professionals and policymakers seeking to understand engagement in research in the allied health disciplines. Where supported by the data, there may be recommendations for future research regarding specific variables to be considered when planning and evaluating engagement in research in allied health practice. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: A previous systematic review identified a positive association between clinician and organization engagement in research and improved processes of care and health outcomes. The reviews' findings have been used as a justification for clinicians and organizations to increase research capacity. That review evaluated literature published before 2012 and the studies that were identified predominantly reported on engagement in research by medics and nurses. An updated review is now required to include research published since 2012. This review will specifically focus on the effect of engagement in research within allied health disciplines. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: Research activity among AHPs is gaining momentum. Given this growth in AHP research activity and the rise in dedicated clinical academic roles, a contemporary review to identify the specific effect of AHP engagement in research on healthcare performance is prudent. The findings will inform clinicians, clinical managers and leaders of the potential impact of research activities by AHP clinicians and organizations. This will support the planning and development of initiatives focused on research capacity, capability and culture within allied health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There has been a steady growth in recent years in British higherdegree training in speech and language therapy. But what is the standing of UK research in the subject and its component areas which should underpin and inform such training? How can such research be evaluated? Aims: The intention was to compare UK publications relevant to speech and language therapy with those of other countries, both quantitatively and qualitatively. We sought then to examine the UK papers in more detail to analyse their sources of funding, their geographical distribution and the ways in which they could appropriately be evaluated. Methods & Procedures: Papers were selectively retrieved from the Science Citation Index and the Social Sciences Citation Index for 1991-2000 by means of a filter based on journal names and paper title words. They were subsequently checked to remove many false positives. The papers were classified into one of seven subject areas and by their research level (from clinical to basic). Their importance was estimated through their potential impact on other researchers, as determined by the citation score of their journals, by the numbers of citations they actually received and by the subjective esteem in which the various journals were held by UK speech and language researchers. Outcomes & Results: World output of speech and language therapy papers has averaged 1000 papers per year during the 1990s, and has grown by half over the period. UK output has been about 12% of the total, compared with 10% in biomedicine, and is published in high impact journals relative to the norm for the field, which is quite a low rate compared with biomedicine overall. Almost half the UK papers had no funding acknowledgements, with the privatenon-profit and industrial sectors playing less of a role than in other biomedical areas. Papers in seven subject areas showed substantial differences in their performance on the four criteria selected. Conclusions: The... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Following content analyses of the first 30 years of the UK speech and language therapy professional body's journal, this study was conducted to survey the published work of the speech (and language) therapy profession over the last 50 years and trace key changes and themes. Aim To understand better the development of the UK speech and language therapy profession over the last 50 years. Methods & Procedures All volumes of the professional journal of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists published between 1966 and 2015 ( British Journal of Communication Disorders, European Journal of Communication Disorders and International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders) were examined using content analysis. The content was compared with that of the same journal as it appeared from 1935 to 1965. Outcomes & Results The journal has shown a trend towards more multi-authored and international papers, and a formalization of research methodologies. The volume of papers has increased considerably. Topic areas have expanded, but retain many of the areas of study found in earlier issues of the journal. Conclusions & Implications The journal and its articles reflect the growing complexity of conditions being researched by speech and language therapists and their professional colleagues and give an indication of the developing evidence base for intervention and the diverse routes which speech and language therapy practice has taken over the last 50 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Swallowing function can become impaired due to primary medical conditions or age‐related presbyphagia, resulting in swallowing disorders, known as dysphagia. Specific manoeuvres that target different musculature have been innovated and researched, but whole‐body exercises (WBE) that target multiple large groups of body systems and muscles have been rarely considered in dysphagia management, despite the causes of dysphagia being often systemic. Aims: To identify intervention studies that have used or incorporated WBE to target swallowing function in humans, and report on their findings. Methods & Procedures: A scoping review was conducted given the paucity and novelty of this topic in research and practice. Key search terms were used to search five major databases on for all human studies published before 28 November 2022. Studies that were not interventional or used animal models were excluded. All swallowing and oromotor‐related outcomes were extracted from the studies. Two researchers independently reviewed all search results following the PRISMA‐ScR guideline before meeting to resolve any disagreements. Main Contribution: Final analysis was conducted on 11 papers that described 10 studies, with 10 papers (9 studies) reporting positive findings for swallowing or oromotor function‐related outcomes. Studies ranged from randomised controlled trials to case studies in design. The study design and populations were heterogeneous, with outcome measures for swallowing and oromotor function ranging from subjective questionnaires to instrumental assessments. Conclusions & Implications: Dysphagia rehabilitation that incorporates WBE as part of a comprehensive programme appears to be more beneficial than either WBE or swallowing‐related interventions alone. This review is an initial attempt to systematically examine the evidence on this topic. There is a need for future research to study how WBE can be used, either alone or combined with traditional swallowing exercises, to influence swallowing function in different healthy and clinical populations. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on this subject: Dysphagia rehabilitation usually focuses only on the swallowing muscles and structures of the head, neck, and respiratory system. Whole‐body exercise (WBE) and fitness are associated with stronger performance of the tongue muscles, there may be transference potential of WBE to swallowing function. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: This review found 10 studies conducted in the last decade that investigated the inclusion of WBE in programmes intended to improve swallowing and/or oromotor‐related outcomes. The studies varied widely in design and methodology, but most reported evidence in support of the inclusion of WBE to improve or maintain swallowing and/or oromotor‐related functions. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: There is potential for WBE to have a synergistic effect on swallowing function when combined with traditional swallowing exercises. Future clinical research should compare different rehabilitation approaches with controls. Clinicians should enlist allied health professionals who can provide whole‐body rehabilitation when managing dysphagia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent evidence suggests that pre‐school children with co‐occurring phonological speech sound disorder (SSD) and expressive language difficulties are at a higher risk of ongoing communication and literacy needs in comparison with children with these difficulties in isolation. However, to date there has been no systematic or scoping review of the literature specific to interventions for children with this dual profile. Aims: To explore the evidence regarding interventions for pre‐school children with co‐occurring phonological SSD and expressive language difficulties, including the content/delivery of such interventions, areas of speech and language targeted, and a broad overview of study quality. Methods & Procedures: A scoping review methodology was used in accordance with the guidance from the Joanna Briggs Institute. Following a systematic search of Ovid Medline, Ovid Emcare, OVID Embase, CINAHL, Psychinfo and ERIC, 11 studies were included in the review. A researcher‐developed data extraction form was used to extract specific information about each intervention, with the JBI appraisal tools used to provide a broad overview of the quality of each study. Main contribution: Included papers consisted of six randomized controlled trials (RCTs), two cohort studies, two case studies and one case series. Interventions fell into two main categories: (1) integrated interventions that combined content for both speech and language targets and/or explicitly used the same type of technique to improve both domains; and (2) single‐domain interventions that explicitly included content to target speech or language only, but also aimed to improve the other domain indirectly. Study quality varied, with detail on the content, context and delivery of interventions often underspecified, hampering the replication and clinical applicability of findings. Conclusions & Implications: Early emerging evidence was identified to support both integrated speech and language interventions as well as single‐domain interventions. However, caution should be exercised due to the variation in the quality and level of detail reported for the interventions. Future intervention studies may seek to address this by reporting in accordance with Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) reporting guidelines. This approach would enable clinicians to consider the applicability of the intervention to individual children within differing settings. What this paper adds: What is already known on the subject: Pre‐school children with co‐occurring phonological SSD and expressive language difficulties frequently present within speech and language therapy services. These children are at a higher risk of long‐term communication and literacy difficulties compared with children with these needs in isolation. Some emerging evidence suggests that interventions for children with this co‐occurring profile may exist within the literature; however, this evidence may not be known to clinicians in everyday practice. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: This review is the first to systematically examine evidence of interventions for pre‐school children with co‐occurring phonological SSD and expressive language difficulties. The review identified a small number of intervention studies that varied in research quality and level of detail provided regarding the content and delivery of interventions. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: The findings of this study highlight published evidence for interventions for pre‐school children with co‐occurring phonological SSD and expressive language difficulties. These may take the form of integrating techniques for speech/language into a single intervention, or the explicit targeting of one domain with the aim of also influencing the other. However, there is a need for further high‐quality research in this area. Such studies should provide sufficient detail to enable replication. This would enable clinicians to understand the relevance and applicability of such intervention findings to the individual children they see within their clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Echolalia, the repetition of others' speech, is a common observation in autistic people. Research has established that echolalia is functional and meaningful for many; however, some clinicians and researchers continue to characterise it as pathological and in need of reduction. The aim of this systematic review was to understand the range and impact of interventions for echolalia in autistic children. Method: A systematic search was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A total of 15 studies met predetermined inclusion criteria. Screening, data extraction and quality rating using the Scientific Merit Rating Scale (SMRS) were performed in duplicate. Results: Ten interventions across 15 papers were found. Results indicated that interventions generally decreased levels of echolalia. However, there were considerable inconsistencies in the definitions and conceptualisations of echolalia, administration, generalisation techniques and the measures used. The quality of the studies was very low. Conclusion: Interventions for echolalia vary widely in terms of administration and measurement. There is limited consensus on the definition of echolalia among the reviewed studies, and no evidence that echolalia is recognised as functional or meaningful to the autistic children. Further, the lack of methodological rigour makes it difficult to draw clinical conclusions about the interventions. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known: Echolalia is the immediate or delayed repetition of others' speech and is a common observation in autistic children and in some older autistic people. While research and practice has established that echolalia is a functional and meaningful form of communication, particularly for those first developing spoken communication, some clinicians and researchers continue to characterise it as problematic and suggest that echolalia should be reduced or eliminated. What this study adds: We systematically searched the literature about echolalia interventions to try to find out about the types of interventions that aim to reduce or eliminate echolalia. We found 15 studies on this topic. The way they defined echolalia was varied, and there was a range of interventions researched. None of the research papers recognised echolalia as functional or meaningful and the quality of the research was very low. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: Clinicians, families and researchers should think carefully and critically about suggesting any programs or supports that aim to reduce echolalia as no recommendations can be drawn from the research we studied. Echolalia should be considered functional, and efforts made to understand the meaning and purpose of echolalic speech. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The emergence of language in the early years is a major developmental accomplishment that underpins learning, enables social interaction and, later, is an indicator of well‐being. Learning language is an effortless process for most, but can be challenging for others. There is a need to act early. First, because there are several social, environmental and family factors known to influence how language develops during the critical early years. Second, there is a robust association between a child's socio‐economic circumstances and language outcomes. Put simply, children living in less advantaged circumstance have poorer language outcomes, which are apparent very early and persist across the lifespan. Third, children with demonstrated weaknesses in language learning in early childhood have poorer educational, employment, mental health and quality‐of‐life outcomes across the lifespan. Acting early to counter these impacts is important; however, there are several well‐documented challenges in accurately identifying in the early years children who are at later risk of developmental language disorder (DLD) and to deliver prevention and intervention programmes to scale. This is critical because many services do not currently reach those who need them most; as many as 50% of children in need may not be receiving support. Aim: To determine whether an improved surveillance system, based on best evidence, could be developed for the early years. Methods & Procedures: We summarised findings from longitudinal, population or community studies that: (1) adopted bioecological models, (2) repeatedly measured language (including the early years) and (3) adopted similar methodologies, to identify factors that influence language outcomes. Main contribution: The evidence confirmed that language development is not always stable but is characterized by distinct trajectories and each has distinguishing social, environmental features. Children in the change or fluctuating groups tend to live in less advantageous circumstances that may not always support and enable language development. Risk factors tend to cluster and accumulate across the early years and beyond, thereby markedly increasing the likelihood of poorer language outcomes later in life. Conclusions & Implications: In this the first of two papers, designed to be read together, we integrate research on the social determinants of child language and propose they be embedded into surveillance models. This has the potential to reach more children and those living in disadvantaged circumstances. In the accompanying paper we combine this information with evidence‐informed early prevention/intervention approaches and propose the design and implementation of an early language public health framework. What this paper adds: What is already known on the subject: There are several well‐documented challenges in accurately identifying in the early years children who are at later risk of DLD and reaching those most in need of language support. What this study adds to existing knowledge: A combination of child, family and environmental determinants, collectively and cumulatively, play out over time and dramatically increase the risk of later language problems, in particular those children living in disadvantaged circumstances. We propose an improved surveillance system that incorporates these determinants be developed and that this be part of a whole of system approach to child language in the early years. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: Clinicians intuitively act to prioritize children with multiple features or risks; however, they can only do so for those who present or are identified to be at risk. Given many children with language problems are not being reached by many early language services, it is reasonable to ask if this knowledge can be integrated to improve reach. Or is a different surveillance model required? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In 2016/17, the CATALISE Consortium published the results of a multinational and multidisciplinary Delphi consensus study, representing agreement among professionals about the definition and process of identification of children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) (Bishop et al., 2016, 2017). The extent to which the current clinical practice of UK speech and language therapists (SLTs) reflects the CATALISE consensus statements is unknown. Aims: To investigate how UK SLTs' expressive language assessment practices reflect the CATALISE documents' emphasis on the functional impairment and impact caused by DLD, by examining: whether multiple sources of assessment information are gathered; how standardised and non‐standardised sources are combined in clinical decision‐making, and how clinical observation and language sample analysis are utilised. Methods and Procedures: An anonymous, online survey was carried out between August 2019 and January 2020. It was open to UK‐based paediatric SLTs who assess children up to age 12 with unexplained difficulties using language. Questions probed different aspects of expressive language assessment which are referred to in the CATALISE consensus statements and supplementary comments, and asked about participants' familiarity with the CATALISE statements. Responses were analysed using simple descriptive statistics and content analysis. Outcomes and Results: The questionnaire was completed by 104 participants, from all four regions of the United Kingdom, working in a range of clinical settings with different levels of professional experience of DLD. The findings indicate that clinical assessment practices broadly align with the CATALISE statements. Although clinicians carry out standardised assessments more frequently than other types of assessment, they also gather information from other sources and use this alongside standardised test scores to inform clinical decisions. Clinical observation and language sample analysis are commonly utilised to evaluate functional impairment and impact, along with parent/carer/teacher and child report. However, asking about the child's own perspective could be more widely utilised. The findings also highlight a lack of familiarity with the details of the CATALISE documents among two thirds of the participants. Conclusions and Implications: Assessment practices broadly align with the CATALISE statements, but there is a need for greater clarity regarding terminology and the assessment of functional language impairment and impact. This research should prompt discussion in the profession about how to further develop and adopt expressive language assessment practices which reflect the CATALISE consensus and support effective assessment. What This Paper Adds: What is already known on the subject: The CATALISE consortium documents on Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) were published in 2016/17. The extent to which expressive language assessment practice in the United Kingdom reflects the new definition and statements on assessment has not previously been investigated. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: This survey indicates that speech and language therapists in the United Kingdom assessing children for DLD mostly balance standardised language test scores with other sources of information in clinical decision‐making, and utilise clinical observation and language sample analysis to consider functional impairment and the impact of the language disorder. However, important questions are raised regarding the robustness and objectivity with which these key parameters are currently defined and evaluated. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: Clinicians, individually and at service level, are encouraged to reflect on their assessment of functional impairment and the impact of language disorder and to take steps to incorporate this where necessary. Professional guidance and clinical tools to facilitate robust, objective assessment would support clinical practice that aligns with expert consensus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Following a content analysis of the first 10 years of the UK professional journal Speech, this study was conducted to survey the published work of the speech (and language) therapy profession in the 20 years following the unification of two separate professional bodies into the College of Speech Therapists. Aim: To understand better the development of the speech (and language) therapy profession in the UK in order to support the development of an online history of the speech and language therapy profession in the UK. Methods & Procedures: The 40 issues of the professional journal of the College of Speech Therapists published between 1946 and 1965 (Speech and later Speech Pathology and Therapy) were examined using content analysis and the content compared with that of the same journal as it appeared from 1935 to the end of the SecondWorldWar (1945). Outcomes & Results: Many aspects of the journal and its authored papers were retained from the earlier years, for example, the range of authors' professions, their location mainly in the UK, their number of contributions and the length of papers. Changes and developments included the balance of original to republished papers, the description and discussion of new professional issues, and an extended range of client groups/disorders. Conclusions & Implications: The journal and its articles reflect the growing maturity of the newly unified profession of speech therapy and give an indication both of the expanding depth of knowledge available to speech therapists and of the rapidly increasing breadth of their work over this period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aims Methods & Procedures Conclusions & Implications WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on this subject What this study adds to the existing knowledge What are the practical and clinical implications of this work? The provision of speech intervention in children requires personalized, child‐tailored approaches. Different speech‐intervention approaches exist to eliminate cleft‐related speech errors in children with a cleft palate. However, it is unclear what approach works best for the subtypes of cleft‐related speech errors.To describe a protocol for a systematic review that provides speech–language pathologists with the current literature concerning more individualized speech intervention in children with a cleft palate.A systematic literature review was performed following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta‐analyses. Two speech–language pathologists with clinical and scientific experience in cleft speech searched different electronic databases for relevant studies. No limit regarding publication date was set. Specific eligibility criteria were defined and used to include or exclude the studies. All included studies were evaluated with a risk‐of‐bias assessment tool and levels of evidence. Relevant data were extracted from the studies (study design, study population characteristics, intervention characteristics and outcome characteristics) and a narrative synthesis was performed.The findings of this systematic review will significantly contribute to the evidence on personalized speech intervention in children with a cleft palate. The study will inform speech–language pathologists on the possibilities to tailor treatment plans more to the specific subtype of cleft‐related speech errors. The planned systematic review also makes recommendations for further cleft speech intervention research. At present, there is growing evidence for different speech therapy approaches in children with a cleft palate. Despite the recognized need for personalized, child‐tailored therapy, there is no consensus on the best speech therapy approach per different subtype of compensatory cleft speech characteristic. This paper provides a protocol for a systematic literature review of this topic. Specifically, it searches the literature for the use of personalized speech therapy approaches in children with different subtypes of compensatory cleft speech characteristics. The systematic literature review provides speech–language pathologists with the current literature concerning personalized, performance‐specific speech intervention in children with a cleft palate. Besides, the results will support therapy decision‐making in children with a cleft palate in different speech‐related clinical contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods & Procedures Outcomes & Results Conclusions & Implications WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on the subject What this paper adds to the existing knowledge What are the practical and clinical implications of this work? Children and adolescents with language problems have poorer mental health compared with their non‐language impaired peers. Less is known about mental health in adults with a history of language problems. This paper presents a systematic review and meta‐analysis that addresses this gap in the literature. Specifically, it summarises the results from studies examining anxiety and depression in adults (aged 18 years and over) who were identified with language impairments or problems earlier in development.Five electronic databases (PsycINFO, ERIC, CINAHL, EMBASE and PubMed) were searched for studies comparing anxiety and/or depression in a sample of adults with and without a history of language problems. Nine studies were found that met the inclusion criteria. From each, an odds ratio (OR) was computed measuring the relationship between childhood language problems and anxiety or depression in adulthood. The OR was computed so values > 1 which indicated anxiety/depression were associated with a history of language problems. ORs were averaged using multilevel random effects meta‐analysis.Averaging the study's findings across both anxiety and depression outcomes, we found that a history of childhood language problems was associated with poorer mental health in adulthood (OR = 1.79, p = 0.004). The association for anxiety was also significant (OR = 1.80, p = 0.012) and close to statistical significance for depression (OR = 1.60, p = 0.054).This review reveals that adults with a history of language problems are more likely to experience poorer mental health outcomes compared with controls. These findings demonstrate childhood language problems affect not only communication but also mental health and well‐being in the long term. Prior research examining mental health in children and adolescents with language problems reveals a twofold increased risk of internalising problems, including anxiety and depression. However, little is known about mental health outcomes in adults with a history of language problems. The main finding was that childhood language problems are associated with increased risk of anxiety and depression in adulthood. First, the study demonstrates childhood language problems increase the risk of poor mental health in adulthood. Second, in adult mental health settings there is a need to screen for language problems and, where applicable, adjust interventions to accommodate communicative needs for patients/clients. Solving these issues requires integration and recognition of the importance of speech–language therapy in the adult mental health system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aims Methods & Procedures Main Contribution Conclusions & Implications WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on the subject What this paper adds to the existing knowledge What are the practical and clinical implications of this work? There are many children with neurodisability who are unable to rely on speech to communicate and so use a range of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) methods and strategies to get their message across. Current instruments designed to measure the outcomes of speech and language therapy interventions lack specific attention to communication outcomes that are valued by non‐verbal children with neurodisability, their families and support networks. This qualitative meta‐synthesis was conducted to identify valued communication outcomes to inform the next stage of developing a novel outcome measure.To systematically identify and synthesise the qualitative evidence about which communication outcomes non‐verbal children with neurodisability, their family members, healthcare professionals and educators think are important to achieve, specifically which communication outcomes are most valued by: (1) non‐verbal children with neurodisability; (2) parents or other family members of non‐verbal children with neurodisability; and (3) professionals who work with non‐verbal children with neurodisability.A systematic search of bibliographic databases and the grey literature was undertaken to identify qualitative studies that included evidence of views expressed by children, family members, healthcare professionals and educators on outcomes in relation to the communication of non‐verbal children with neurodisability. All papers meeting the inclusion criteria were quality appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Qualitative checklist, although none were excluded on this basis. The data synthesis involved organising coded data into descriptive themes which were then synthesised into analytical themes.We found 47 papers containing qualitative data meeting the inclusion criteria from research situated in 14 countries. The views of 35 children, 183 parents, six other family members, 42 healthcare professionals and 18 educators are represented in the review. The included studies contained very few data reported by children themselves; most data were provided by adults, especially parents. Three main analytical themes were identified: Experiences of communication and expectations; adapting to and acceptance of AAC; and becoming an autonomous communicator.This meta‐synthesis brings together the limited qualitative research findings about what parents, professionals and children consider are important communication outcomes for non‐verbal children with neurodisability. The synthesis identifies key gaps in our knowledge about the perspectives of children and their siblings. This synthesis will inform primary research to understand valued communication outcomes in this group, and ultimately the development of a patient‐reported outcome measure (PROM) that can be used to demonstrate the effect of interventions, at both clinical and service levels. Studies of children with cerebral palsy and autism spectrum disorder indicate that at least 25% of children with these conditions are non‐verbal. Studies on the health outcomes of children with neurodisability have identified that communication is rated as important by parents and health professionals. There is an evidence gap about which communication outcomes are important to non‐verbal children, their families and the people who work with them. This is the first synthesis of data that relates to communication outcomes for non‐verbal children with neurodisability. This qualitative meta‐synthesis identifies from previous research studies the communication outcomes valued by children who are non‐verbal, their parents or other family members, and the professionals who work with them. The findings will be used to shape further primary research and the development of a novel patient‐reported communication outcome measure for non‐verbal children with neurodisability. It is anticipated that this will be used by clinicians to measure the effect of their interventions. Clinicians should reflect on parents’ experiences of communication with their child before discussing potential outcomes with them. Gaining insight into the lived experience of communication for non‐verbal children and their families will help healthcare professionals to understand which goals are important to them and why. Few studies have specifically asked which communication outcomes are important for non‐verbal children with neurodisability. Further exploration is needed to determine which communication outcomes non‐verbal children and their families would like to see included in outcome measures used by clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Methods Results Conclusion WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on this subject What this paper adds to existing knowledge What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? Collaborative approaches in speech‐language pathology (SLP) aim to integrate the experience of clients and people important to them by including these stakeholders actively in decision making. This inclusion can lead to more effective, engaging, and safer SLP practice. A variety of collaborative approaches have evolved in response to sociocultural contexts, and as a result, there are many different approaches currently in use such as co‐design, co‐production, and co‐creation. However, despite widening acceptance and utilisation of collaborative approaches, the use and evidence for these in SLP literature have not been considered collectively. The current study aims to explore how collaborative approaches, used to develop products or services in SLP, are reported in literature.Using narrative review methodology, a systematic search of three databases and hand searching were conducted to explore how collaborative approaches, used to develop products or services, are reported in SLP. Search terms reflected the breadth of collaborative approaches and the diverse nature of SLP across clinical practice. Following screening of initial data, 59 articles were identified for data extraction and narrative synthesis. An internationally recognised reporting checklist for stakeholder involvement called the Guidance for Reporting Involvement of Patients and the Public, Version 2 (GRIPP2), informed the reviewing process in addition to qualitative description.Collaborative approaches across SLP practice were found to be diverse as were the terminology and tools used for collaboration. Two‐thirds of the studies were published after 2020. The timing and involvement of stakeholders in collaborative approaches varied greatly; however, most stakeholder involvement was found in the conducting of research activities, compared to other areas such as planning, analysis, and reporting. The GRIPP2 review indicated strengths and opportunities in reporting of stakeholder involvement. When stakeholder involvement was rigorously reported it could include reflection on how stakeholders contributed within their communication abilities and how this contribution benefited the study.Collaborative approaches reported in SLP focused on valuing and respecting people with living experience of communication and swallowing difficulties. This narrative review contributes to the resources available to support decision‐making and working together with stakeholders, encouraging SLPs to reflect, consider the context and respond. Future research could continue to strengthen consistency in terminology for collaborative approaches, use frameworks to plan and report stakeholder involvement and carefully consider involvement across the research continuum. There is an expectation that health services include stakeholders in development and evaluation of services. Collaborative approaches in speech‐language pathology (SLP) aim to integrate the lived experience of people with communication and swallowing difficulties and those important to them. These approaches, including but not limited to, co‐design, co‐production and participatory action research, have shared philosophies of being community‐driven, strengths based and inclusive (Loeffler & Bovaird, 2021). This study contributes information about current SLP practice when collaborative approaches have been employed to develop a product or service. The study maps diverse collaborative approaches and their frequency in the literature, as well as the various stakeholders involved, using the Guidance for Reporting Involvement of Patients and the Public, Version 2 (GRIPP2) checklists to guide the review of reporting stakeholder involvement. This synthesis of literature supports researchers and clinicians in making intentional decisions in implementation and reporting of collaborative approaches. This decision‐making can strengthen the implementation of collaborative approaches, which has implications for person‐centred care in SLP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aims Methods & Procedures Main contribution Conclusions & Implications WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on this subject What this paper adds to the existing knowledge What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? Phonetic transcription is a core skill of speech and language therapists/pathologists (SLT/Ps) for clinical assessment of speech sounds and/or errors, and linguists for investigation of phonetic phenomena in various languages; hence, it is included in the curriculum of the corresponding degree programme. Many experts and course instructors have discussed their opinions on different aspects of phonetic transcription teaching and/or reported their own training programmes. However, no review has systematically summarized the types of expert recommendations and training methodology reported in the literature. Such information is important for mapping the knowledge gaps, refining current teaching and planning further research.To systematically summarize (1) the materials and procedures for delivering and evaluating phonetic transcription training programmes, and (2) the opinions from experts in phonetic transcription teaching regarding but not limited to the content, rationale(s), format and structure, and timing of teaching phonetic transcription of typical speech and/or disordered speech reported in the literature.A scoping review was carried out by following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. PubMed, EBSCOhost and Web of Science were searched and citation searching of included papers was completed. The included papers were divided into training programme reports, of which data (e.g., type and number of speech stimuli used, type and number of learners, outcome measures) were charted, and expert opinion papers, analysed using content analysis.A total of 565 studies were retrieved. After excluding duplicates and irrelevant papers and merging two sources that reported the same training, a total of 23 sources on training programmes and six opinion papers were analysed. Most training were for English and for SLT/P students, with some for the linguistics students. There are variations in the training content (with phonetic transcription practice as the main procedure), delivery mode (some presented via websites or computer software), stimuli (audio recordings of typical adults and children with speech disorders were most used), feedback (mostly immediate feedback using answer keys) and outcome measures (mainly transcription accuracy of learners and user opinions). Content analysis of opinion papers determined five main categories: rationale for training; aspects of the delivery of training; transcription; problem areas noted; and strategies/resources.Implications and considerations for teaching are discussed, along with recommendations for research in the design of evidence‐based training. The findings can contribute to the development of general guidelines about phonetic transcription training in educational programmes and the establishment of pre‐registration competencies. Phonetic transcription is a core skill of SLT/Ps and linguists for clinical speech assessment and research, and it is an important component in the curriculum of the relevant degree programmes. Many experts and course instructors have discussed their opinions regarding phonetic transcription teaching and/or reported their own training programmes in various sources such as books and book chapters, research papers and conference proceedings. The paper reports a scoping review that systematically summarized the materials and procedures for delivering and evaluating phonetic transcription programmes and experts’ opinions and recommendations for phonetic transcription teaching, reported in the literature. The data from these two types of sources allowed an integrated discussion of the various aspects of phonetic transcription training, such as content, format and structure, materials and timing of teaching and the evaluation of training efficacy. The data synthesized and discussed provide a foundation for a review of current practice in phonetic transcription teaching in SLT education. The findings can contribute to the development of general guidelines about phonetic transcription training in educational programmes and the establishment of pre‐registration competencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aims Methods and Procedure Outcomes and Results Conclusion WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on the subject What this paper adds to existing knowledge What are the clinical implications of this work? Accurate nonword repetition (NWR) is contingent on many underlying skills, including encoding, memory and motor planning and programming. Though vowel errors are frequently associated with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), several recent studies have found that children with developmental language disorder (DLD) produce high rates of vowel errors in NWR tasks.This retrospective analysis explored whether the overall frequency and types of vowel errors produced in NWR distinguish children with DLD, children with CAS, children with speech sound disorder (SSD) and children with typical development (TD).We present data for 24 children (six per DLD, CAS, SSD and TD groups), ranging in age from 50–92 months. Children with DLD, CAS and SSD showed similar articulation scores and children with DLD and children with CAS showed similar expressive language scores. Total vowel errors, total monophthong errors, monophthong substitutions, diphthongization errors, total diphthong errors, diphthong substitutions and diphthong reduction errors were calculated by syllable length and group. Repeated measures analyses of variance were used to examine group differences.Children with DLD and children with CAS produced a higher frequency of total vowel errors compared to children with TD. Children with DLD produced more total monophthong errors than children with TD. Children with DLD and children with CAS produced more total diphthong errors than children with TD. For children with DLD, these were characterised by diphthong substitutions. For children with CAS, these were characterised by diphthong substitutions and diphthong reduction errors. For all measures, error rates in children with SSD did not significantly differ from any of the other three groups.Preliminary evidence indicates that children with DLD and children with CAS both show high rates of vowel errors in NWR tasks and weaknesses in encoding and memory. For children with CAS, additional motor planning difficulties are associated with an increased likelihood to reduce diphthongs. Children with SSD show more mild processing difficulties than children with DLD and children with CAS, though they do not perform as well as TD peers. Future work should replicate and further specify the processing weaknesses that affect vowel accuracy in NWR tasks in a larger sample. Nonword repetition (NWR) tasks are often included in diagnostic batteries to identify children with developmental language disorder (DLD). Poor performance on these tasks have historically been attributed to phonological working memory deficits in children with DLD. However, repeating nonwords relies on a number of underlying processing skills and many of these skills are affected to varying degrees in children with speech and language disorders. An in‐depth analysis of vowel errors has the potential to reveal the shared as well as specific underlying processing weaknesses in children with DLD, children with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) and children with speech sound disorder (SSD). We found that children with DLD and children with CAS show low vowel competence compared to children with typical development. A nuanced examination of vowel error types further revealed that children with DLD and children with CAS show weaknesses in encoding and memory. Motor planning and programming weaknesses were unique to CAS. Children with SSD show more mild processing deficits and their performance did not significantly differ from any of the other three groups. Examining the types of vowel errors produced by children with DLD, children with CAS and children with SSD in NWR allows us to further specify the underlying processing weaknesses that differentiate these three groups. This research informs theoretical accounts of language processing in children with different types of speech and language disorders and has the potential to improve the diagnostic utility of NWR tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aims Methods & Procedures Outcomes & Results Conclusions & Implications WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on the subject What this paper adds to the existing knowledge What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? Although considerable research has been conducted on post‐COVID‐19 syndrome (PCS), cognitive symptoms, particularly those related to language, are still not well understood.To provide a detailed quantitative and qualitative analysis of language performance in PCS patients using a comprehensive set of semantic and verbal production tasks.The study involved 195 PCS patients aged 26–64 years and 50 healthy controls aged 25–61 years. Participants were assessed using two semantic tasks, three naming tasks and four types of verbal fluency tasks, designed to evaluate different aspects of language processing.PCS patients demonstrated significantly poorer performance compared with controls across all verbal fluency tasks. This was evident in both the total number of words generated and their types, with patients tending to choose more easily accessible words. In naming tasks, the pattern of errors was similar in both groups, although patients showed a higher number of non‐responses and made more errors, reflecting difficulties in word retrieval. The analysis highlighted the impact of factors such as stimulus availability, educational level and cognitive reserve on performance. Notably, younger patients performed worse than older, a paradoxical trend also observed in previous research.These findings reveal significant word retrieval difficulties in PCS patients, suggesting that cognitive impairment related to language may be more pronounced than previously understood. The results underscore the need for a thorough evaluation of language functions in PCS patients and the development of more targeted and individualized language rehabilitation strategies to address these specific challenges. Studies on the cognitive characteristics of CPS have focused mainly on broad‐spectrum neuropsychological assessments covering all cognitive functions. However, there are very few studies analysing oral production with specific lexical and semantic system tasks. Furthermore, no work has specifically included tasks assessing semantic processing or conducted qualitative analyses of the psycholinguistic variables affecting performance. Such analyses could undoubtedly help clarify the nature of the language impairments in patients with PCS. This study explores in depth the evaluation and analysis of the oral production of patients with PCS using several lexical and semantic tasks. In addition, psycholinguistic variables are analysed that could undoubtedly help clarify the nature of the language impairments in patients with PCS. The study allows the identification of specific lexical–semantic deficits in the spoken language in patients with this PCS. A more detailed assessment of the oral language of these patients, keeping in mind the psycholinguistic variables that may affect the performance, will facilitate the design of more efficient and individualized rehabilitation programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aims Methods & Procedures Outcomes & Results Conclusion & Implications WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on the subject What this study adds What are the clinical implications of this work? In the Spanish and Catalan context, there is currently a lack of standardized, linguistically adapted tools to assess people with communication disorders. This lack is especially evident when it comes to instruments designed to assess functional communication.The main objective of this study is to adapt the instrument entitled Communication Activities of Daily Living 3rd edition (CADL‐3) into European Spanish (CADL‐3VE) and Catalan (CADL‐3VC), thus providing a new tool to assess the functional communication of patients with aphasia in the Spanish and Catalan populations.A total of 152 people, all residents of Catalonia, took part in the study. The CADL‐3VE test was administered to 125 Spanish‐speaking participants, who were divided into two groups, one consisting of patients with aphasia and the other a control group. The CADL‐3VC test was administered to 27 Catalan‐speaking patients with aphasia. Other tests and assessment scales were used for the external validation of the test.Reliability scores were recorded for both new versions of the test. There was a very strong correlation between the CADL‐3VE test and external criteria. The scores for both of the new versions showed significant differences in terms of performance between the aphasia and control groups. Both versions displayed similarities with the original test with respect to most of the psychometric analyses carried out.The test makes it possible to assess everyday communicative functioning and participation in real‐world contexts. As such, it helps inform the creation of personalized, interdisciplinary treatment plans aimed at functional objectives that consider the patient's context. In order to effectively assess aphasia based on a bio‐psycho‐social perspective, it is necessary to examine functional communication. In other words, there is a need to explore the kinds of communication difficulties that people face in their everyday lives. Communication Activities of Daily Living (CADL‐3) is an English‐language test that was developed to assess functional communication by simulating certain everyday activities. This paper offers an analysis of the items, reliability and validity of the Spanish and Catalan versions of the CADL‐3 test. This new instrument has the potential to play an essential role in assessing the everyday functional communication of people with aphasia in Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Methods Results Conclusion WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on the subject What this paper adds to existing knowledge What are the clinical implications of this work? Typically developing children assigned male at birth (AMAB) and children assigned female at birth (AFAB) produce the fricative /s/ differently: AFAB children produce /s/ with a higher spectral peak frequency. This study examined whether implicit knowledge of these differences affects speech‐language pathologists’/speech and language therapists’ (SLPs’/SLTs’) ratings of /s/ accuracy, by comparing ratings made in conditions where SLPs/SLTs were blind to children's sex assigned at birth (SAB) to conditions in which they were told this information.SLPs (n = 95) varying in clinical experience rated the accuracy of word‐initial /s/ productions (n = 87) of eight children with speech sound disorder in one of four conditions: one in which no information about the children was revealed, one in which children's SAB was revealed, one in which children's age was revealed, and one in which both were revealed.Despite there being no statistically significant differences between AFAB and AMAB children's /s/ production in researcher‐determined accuracy or in one acoustic characteristic, spectral centroid, SLPs in all four conditions judged the /s/ productions of AFAB children as more accurate than AMAB children. Listeners were significantly less likely to judge the productions of AMAB children to be inaccurate in the conditions in which age or age and SAB were revealed. These effects were consistent across SLPs with greatly varying levels of clinical experience.Knowing or imputing children's age and SAB can affect ratings of /s/ accuracy. Clinicians should be mindful of these potential effects. Future research should understand how expectations about sociolinguistic variation in speech affect appraisals of their speech and language. Adult men and women produce /s/ differently. A consensus is that these differences reflect sociolinguistic gender marking, rather than being the passive consequence of vocal‐tract differences. Recent studies have shown that children assigned female at birth (AFAB) and those assigned male at birth (AMAB) produce /s/ differently in ways that mirror the differences between adult men and women, and which presumably reflect gender marking. We asked whether US‐based speech‐language pathologists' (SLPs) ratings of the accuracy of /s/ differ depending on whether they are rating an AFAB or an AMAB child, and whether these differences are greater in conditions in which people are told the sex assigned at birth of the child being rated. We found that SLPs were more likely to judge AFAB children's /s/ productions to be more accurate than AMAB children's, even though the productions from the AMAB and AFAB children that were used as stimuli were matched for accuracy as determined by trained researchers. SLPs/speech‐language therapists should be sensitive to the influence of social variables when assessing /s/. SLPs/speech‐language therapists might rate children's productions differently depending on whether they believe they are rating an AFAB or an AMAB child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aims Methods & Procedures Main Contributions Conclusions & Implications: WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on this subject What this paper adds to the existing knowledge What are the practical and clinical implications of this work? There is increasing interest in the incorporation of animal‐assisted services (AAS) in therapy for adults with acquired neurogenic communication disorders. AAS have the potential to enhance speech and language therapy engagement and outcomes. However, a greater understanding of the nature and potential benefits of these interventions is needed.To describe the existing evidence for the incorporation of AAS in therapy with adults with acquired neurogenic communication disorders and to identify areas for future research.A scoping review was conducted and reported in alignment with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐analyses checklist extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA‐ScR). Seven databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane, Scopus, Web of Science) and grey literature (Google) were searched. Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts and full texts against eligibility criteria using Covidence software. The Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist guided extraction of intervention data.A total of 17 studies with adults with aphasia, apraxia of speech and cognitive–communication disorders were included. While terminology varied, most interventions met the definition of animal‐assisted therapy or animal‐assisted activity and used therapy dogs. Across studies, a range of outcomes were targeted, and positive benefits were reported for participant mood, emotions, motivation and satisfaction. There were mixed, but mostly positive, benefits on social behaviour, communication and participation.AAS has been incorporated in therapy for adults with acquired neurogenic communication disorders, predominately with people with dementia. Across studies, communication impairments and AAS interventions were insufficiently or inconsistently described. Improved reporting would assist understanding of the potential benefits of AAS as an adjunct therapy. A quality appraisal of existing studies, and meta‐analysis of findings, is needed to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of AAS as a complementary therapy for people with acquired neurogenic communication disorders. There is increasing interest and research in AAS as an adjunct to traditional speech and language therapy. Several clinical populations have been shown to benefit from the incorporation of AAS as a complementary therapy approach, including adults with acquired neurogenic communication disorders. To date there has not been a comprehensive review of literature in the area. This review aimed to describe what is known about AAS as an adjunct intervention for adults with acquired neurogenic communication disorders. A total of 17 studies were identified, the majority conducted with people living with dementia. Overall, consistent positive benefits of AAS were reported on participant mood, positive emotions, motivation, and satisfaction. There were mixed, but mostly positive, benefits of AAS on social behaviour, including both verbal and non‐verbal communication outcomes, and participation. These results suggest a potential therapeutic benefit for the inclusion of AAS into traditional modalities used by speech–language therapists with people with acquired neurogenic communication disorders. However, clinicians should view these findings with caution. Studies were often insufficiently or inconsistently reported, and a quality appraisal and meta‐analysis of existing studies would be needed to draw clear conclusions on the effectiveness of AAS as a complementary approach for people with acquired neurogenic communication disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aims Methods & Procedures Outcomes & Results Conclusions & Implications WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on the subject What this paper adds to the existing knowledge What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? The abbreviated version of the Token Test (aTT) is widely used to assess language comprehension deficits in stroke patients (SPs). However, aTT has not been validated for Latin American Spanish speakers, so clinicians tend to use cut‐off scores for aTT validated in developed countries.To provide normative data for the Spanish aTT (Sp‐aTT) in healthy Chilean Spanish‐speaking and SP, determining the influence of sociodemographic variables such as gender, age and education on Sp‐aTT performance.A total of 210 healthy volunteers (age range = 18–88 years) and 197 SPs (age range = 23–94 years), all native speakers of Chilean Spanish, were recruited. The association of age, gender and years of education on the Sp‐aTT performance was analysed. Specificity and sensibility analyses of the Sp‐aTT to diagnose language comprehension deficits were completed.Only age (p < 0.001) and years of education (p < 0.001) impacted the total score of Sp‐aTT. Gender did not show an association with Sp‐aTT performance (p = 0.181). For SPs, the Sp‐aTT score showed a significant positive correlation (rho = 0.4, p < 0.001) with the aphasia severity rating scale (ASRS) score. For Sp‐aTT, the area under the curve was 0.97, and the optimal cut‐off score for the Sp‐aTT was 30 (0.73 of sensitivity, 0.92 of specificity and a Youden index of 0.644).Age and years of education are two key factors to be controlled for when determining the optimal cut‐off points for the Sp‐aTT. Our results also highlight the need for language‐specific norms in stroke and aphasia research. The aTT has been validated and adapted in several countries. Its properties in screening and detecting comprehensive deficits in SPs highlight its potential as a screening tool in clinical practice. Moreover, considering that stroke is the third largest cause of death worldwide, research and clinical practice have focused on how to improve early detection of deficits in these people, especially those related to cognition, language and functionality in SPs. Therefore, counting with validated and adapted tools is essential for clinicians because it could contribute to accurate intervention and classification of language disorders. The main contribution of this study is to provide normative data for the aTT in Latin American Spanish speakers. No previous studies have focused on validating this test and analysing the influence of three critical variables (age, gender and years of education) on its performance in SPs from Latin America. In addition, we propose a classification of the severity of comprehension deficits in SPs. Finally, we found comprehension deficits in patients with right and left hemisphere stroke, which would imply that these deficits would not be exclusive to left hemisphere stroke. Contribute with validation of language comprehension tools, such as the aTT, could improve early diagnosis of patients with language disorders. This validation provides a test based on the sociodemographic characteristics of Latin American Speakers, which has yet to be established. Due to this, normative data considering the sociodemographic characteristics of the target population is crucial for accurately classifying comprehension deficits after brain damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aims Methods & Procedures Outcomes & Results Conclusions & Implications WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on the subject What this paper adds to the existing knowledge What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? Published best‐practice guidelines and standardized protocols for voice assessment recommend multidisciplinary evaluation utilizing a comprehensive range of clinical measures. Previous studies report variations in assessment practices when compared with these guidelines.To provide an up‐to‐date evaluation of current global multidisciplinary practice patterns and the opinions of otolaryngologist, ear, nose and throat (ENT) and speech–language pathology (SLP) clinicians on initial assessment and differential diagnosis of adults with voice disorders (VDs).ENTs and SLPs worldwide who had worked with VDs within the last 10 years completed an anonymous online survey. Themes explored demographic information about the clinical practice, information about diagnostic assessment pathways, clinical assessments routinely used for initial voice evaluation and clinician perceived value of clinical assessments important for diagnosis.Patterns in the clinical practice of 88 SLPs and 21 ENTs from 18 countries with 1 to more than 25 years’ experience were analysed. Clinicians provided services across a range of locations, and a range of assessment pathways was available for initial evaluation. Case history, laryngoscopy and auditory–perceptual measures were the most frequently selected assessments. Most clinicians favoured formal assessment measures for auditory–perceptual evaluation. Clinicians placed equal weighting on ENT and SLP assessment to aid diagnosis for muscle tension VDs and functional neurological voice disorders (FVDs).Practice patterns for initial diagnostic voice assessment are largely consistent with the currently published guidelines. Decisions for the selection of assessment tools vary according to VD classification, and assessment decisions appear to be guided by case history. Clinicians are not always following established protocols for obtaining reliable standardized measures. Further research is needed to understand the barriers to adhering to standardized protocols and to develop evidence for the use of case history in the process of VD diagnosis. Best‐practice guidelines recommend a multidisciplinary and multidimensional assessment of adults with vocal symptoms. Prior uni‐disciplinary survey studies have reported a divergence in clinical practice with the recommended guidelines. No previous studies have examined otolaryngologists and SLPs concurrently to investigate the multidisciplinary approach clinicians’ use in a diagnostic voice assessment. This study highlights new insights into multidisciplinary voice evaluation practice patterns with an emphasis on diagnostic assessment from a global perspective. The findings build on prior research exploring clinical assessment pathways, service utilization and clinicians’ preferences when selecting clinical tools to inform a differential diagnosis. This paper provides insights to inform future service and resource planning to ensure the delivery of evidenced‐based diagnostic assessment pathways. This study also makes recommendations for areas of future research to understand barriers to clinicians following recommended best‐practice guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aims Methods & Procedures Outcomes & Results Conclusions & Implications WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on the subject What this paper adds to the existing knowledge What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? People with communication problems experience challenges in participation. Optimizing communicative participation for this population is an important outcome of speech and language therapy. Participation experiences are best assessed from the patient's perspective, using a patient‐reported outcome measure (PROM). The Communicative Participation Item Bank (CPIB) has been developed to identify perceived problems in communicative participation. However, previous research has shown that the item bank does not cover all domains and concepts of communicative participation, contains general communication items, and is not suitable for all people with communication problems.To develop a comprehensive PROM aimed at measuring communicative participation for all adults with communication problems and test its content validity.An initial pool of 242 items was based on three sources: relevant content from an earlier literature review and concept elicitation study, and the translation of the items of the CPIB. This item pool was pilot‐tested for comprehensibility and comprehensiveness using cognitive debriefing interviews in adults with different communication problems (speech, language, voice, hearing and cognitive communication disorders). This resulted in a second version of the item bank. The content validity of this version was tested in a group of professionals. The last (third) version of 133 items was tested for content validity in a second, new group of adults with various communication problems.The initial pool of 242 items was developed and pilot‐tested in 27 adults with different communication problems. After modifications, 161 items remained, which were tested in a content validity study with 25 people with different communication problems and five professionals (in the field of speech and language therapy and speech and language research). The professionals considered 91.9% of the item bank relevant and comprehensible, and comprehensive by adding two items. The item bank was then considered relevant, comprehensible and comprehensive by the group of adults with communication problems. A total of 133 items remained in the item bank, related to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Activities and Participation domains ‘mobility’, ‘self‐care’, ‘domestic life’, ‘interpersonal interactions and relationships’, ‘major life areas’ and ‘community, social and civic life’.MyCommunication—Adults is an item bank for measuring communicative participation in adults with communication difficulties. The next step is to test the psychometric properties of the item bank, in order to establish a final item bank. The refined description of the construct of communicative participation can already be used for participation‐focused goal‐setting between individuals with communication problems and speech and language therapists. The CPIB was developed to measure communicative participation in community‐dwelling adults with communication problems. The item bank does not cover all domains and concepts of communicative participation, contains general communication items and not all questions seem to be relevant for specific target groups (e.g., hearing population). This study presents a refined description of the construct of communicative participation and the development of a new comprehensive PROM aimed at measuring this construct for all adults with communication difficulties. The development of the PROM is based on a previously conducted literature review and concept elicitation study. This study describes the development process of this new PROM, called MyCommunication‐Adults, and the assessment of its content validity. The refined description of the construct of communicative participation can be used for participation‐focused goal‐setting between individuals with communication problems and speech and language therapists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Objectives Methods Expected results WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on the subject What this paper adds to the existing knowledge What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? Although psychological factors have been implicated in patients with functional dysphonia (FD), conventional voice therapy (CVT) typically targets the aberrant voice symptoms exclusively. Yet, CVT is not always successful, and in view of the significant adverse quality of life impact combined with the financial burden on the healthcare system and society, research is needed to elucidate the underlying psychophysiology of FD and improve treatment outcomes.The first objective of this research project is to compare the occurrence and frequency of symptoms and/or disorders related to autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction in patients with FD with gender‐ and age‐matched vocally healthy controls, using a case‐control study. The second objective is to compare the effects of a novel therapy for FD based on ANS regulation (i.e., ANS therapy: heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback) on both autonomic function and voice function versus CVT alone or in combination with ANS therapy (i.e., ANS therapy + CVT), using a randomized controlled trial (RCT).Case‐control study: Autonomic (dys)function of patients with FD will be compared with gender‐ and age‐matched vocally healthy controls, using both physiological measures (e.g., HRV, skin conductance level) and psychological patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs, e.g., Neuroception of Psychological Safety Scale, Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale). RCT: The FD group will be randomly assigned to the innovative ANS therapy group, the CVT group or the ANS therapy + CVT group. All patients received 1 month of treatment with 20 min of daily practice. Both the autonomic assessment and the voice assessment will be performed pretherapy and immediately after therapy by assessors blinded to group allocation and study phase.Higher occurrences of symptoms and/or disorders related to autonomic dysfunction are expected in patients with FD compared with vocally healthy controls. Physiological outcomes: lower HRV, lower cardiac pre‐ejection period, higher respiration rate and higher skin conductance level are hypothesized in patients with FD compared with vocally healthy controls. Psychological PROMs: higher self‐report of feelings/symptoms related to autonomic dysfunction (e.g., perceived stress, anxiety) is expected in patients with FD compared with vocally healthy controls. The autonomic function is hypothesized to improve more after the ANS therapy and the ANS therapy + CVT compared with the CVT only. Voice function is expected to improve more after the ANS therapy + CVT compared with the ANS therapy and the CVT alone. Autonomic dysfunction is well recognized in the field of psychology but remains understudied in the area of voice. Given that the vagus nerve, innervating the larynx, also helps to regulate the ANS, and psychological symptoms commonly observed in patients with FD may reflect ANS dysregulation, research in this area is needed. There is some preliminary evidence that autonomic dysfunction might indeed be associated with FD. However, physiological ANS measures are needed, as well as validated psychological PROMs. The first objective of this study is to investigate the occurrence and frequency of symptoms and/or disorders related to autonomic dysfunction in patients with FD as compared with a gender‐ and age‐matched vocally healthy control group. Autonomic (dys)function will be determined by employing both physiological measures (e.g., HRV, skin conductance level) and psychological PROMs (e.g., Neuroception of Psychological Safety Scale, Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale). The second objective is to compare the effects of a novel therapy for FD based on ANS regulation (HRV biofeedback) versus CVT alone or in combination with ANS therapy. Success rates of symptomatic CVT for FD are highly variable. This study is expected to lead to innovative results related to the pathogenesis and psychophysiology of FD, a prevalent voice disorder associated with a significant adverse quality of life impact and a substantial financial burden on the healthcare system and society. The results of this study will lead to crucial new insights into both the diagnosis and treatment of FD, contributing to evidence‐based practice in the field of voice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aims Method Main Contribution Conclusions & Implications WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on the subject What this paper adds to the existing knowledge What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? Speech sound disorders (SSDs) in children are heterogeneous. Differentiating children with SSDs into distinct subtypes is important so that each child receives a treatment approach well suited to the particular difficulties they are experiencing.To study the distinct underlying processes that differentiate phonological processing, phonological planning or motor planning deficits.The literature on the nature of SSDs is reviewed to reveal diagnostic signs at the level of distal causes, proximal factors and surface characteristics.Subtypes of SSDs may be identified by linking the surface characteristics of the children's speech to underlying explanatory proximal factors. The proximal factors may be revealed by measures of speech perception skills, phonological memory and speech–motor control. The evidence suggests that consistent phonological disorder (CPD) can be identified by predictable patterns of speech error associated with speech perception errors. Inconsistent phonological disorder (IPD) is associated with a deficit in the selection and sequencing of phonemes, that is, revealed as within‐word inconsistency and poor phonological memory. The motor planning deficit that is specific to childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is revealed by transcoding errors on the syllable repetition task and an inability to produce [pətəkə] accurately and rapidly.Children with SSDs form a heterogeneous population. Surface characteristics overlap considerably among those with severe disorders, but certain signs are unique to particular subtypes. Careful attention to underlying causal factors will support the accurate diagnosis and selection of personalized treatment options. SSD in children are heterogenous, with numerous subtypes of primary SSD proposed. Diagnosing the specific subtype of SSD is important in order to assign the most efficacious treatment approach for each child. Identifying the distinct subtype for each child is difficult because the surface characteristics of certain subtypes overlap among categories (e.g., CPD or IPD; CAS).SSD in children are heterogenous, with numerous subtypes of primary SSD proposed. Diagnosing the specific subtype of SSD is important in order to assign the most efficacious treatment approach for each child. Identifying the distinct subtype for each child is difficult because the surface characteristics of certain subtypes overlap among categories (e.g., CPD or IPD; CAS). The diagnostic challenge might be eased by systematic attention to explanatory factors in relation to the surface characteristics, using specific tests for this purpose. Word identification tasks tap speech perception skills; repetition of short versus long strings of nonsense syllables permits observation of phonological memory and phonological planning skills; and standard maximum performance tests provide considerable information about speech motor control.The diagnostic challenge might be eased by systematic attention to explanatory factors in relation to the surface characteristics, using specific tests for this purpose. Word identification tasks tap speech perception skills; repetition of short versus long strings of nonsense syllables permits observation of phonological memory and phonological planning skills; and standard maximum performance tests provide considerable information about speech motor control. Children with SSDs should receive comprehensive assessments of their phonological processing, phonological planning and motor planning skills frequently, alongside examinations of their error patterns in connected speech. Such assessments will serve to identify the child's primary challenges currently and as they change over developmental time.Children with SSDs should receive comprehensive assessments of their phonological processing, phonological planning and motor planning skills frequently, alongside examinations of their error patterns in connected speech. Such assessments will serve to identify the child's primary challenges currently and as they change over developmental time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cognitive–communication difficulties are often associated with dementia and can impact a person's ability to participate in meaningful conversations. This can create challenges to families, reflecting the reality that people living with dementia rarely have just one regular conversation partner, but interact with multiple family members. To date, there is limited evidence of the impact of changes in communication patterns in families. A family systems approach, with foundations in psychology, can be used to explore the impact of communication difficulties on multiple different family members, including the person living with dementia and potential coping strategies used by individuals, together with the family as a whole. Methods & Procedures: A systematic review of primary qualitative research was conducted to identify and examine research exploring communication and interaction within families living with dementia. Studies were identified through a comprehensive search of major databases and the full‐text articles were subject to a quality appraisal. We conducted a thematic analysis on the literature identified to consider the role of families in supporting communication for people with dementia. Outcomes & Results: The searches identified 814 possible articles for screening against the eligibility criteria. Nine articles were included in the final review. Three major themes emerged from the analysis of the included studies: (1) 'identities changing' reflected how interactions within the family systems impacted on identities; (2) 'loss' reflected the grief experienced by families due to changes in communication; and (3) 'developing communication strategies' highlighted strategies and approaches that families affected by dementia may use organically to engage in meaningful interactions and maintain connection. Only one study explicitly used a family systems approach to understand how families manage the changes in interaction resulting from dementia. Conclusions & Implications: The findings may usefully inform the clinical practice of speech and language therapists in terms of communication strategies and coping mechanisms that may be advised to facilitate connection in families living with dementia. Further research using a family systems approach to exploring communication in dementia may help to support the implementation of family‐centred practice as recommended in policy. What this paper adds: What is already known on the subject: There is increasing recognition of the impact of dementia on whole families and the need for family‐centred interventions to enhance quality of life. However, much of the research to date that explores communication within families affected by dementia examines interaction between dyads, largely overlooking the roles and skills of other familial communication partners. To the authors' knowledge, there has been no previous review of the literature using a family systems approach, which has the potential to inform clinical practice of those working in dementia care. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: The review examines and understands what is known about the approaches used by families affected by communication changes resulting from dementia to preserve connection. It collates the evidence from qualitative studies examining approaches and strategies used by individual conversation partners, including people with dementia, as well as the family system as a whole, to facilitate meaningful interactions, and proposes recommendations for clinicians working in this field. Furthermore, we consider the potential benefits of using a family systems approach to understand the context of people living with dementia and how this could enhance communication, personhood and well‐being. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: This review highlights practical conversation strategies and interactional approaches that may serve to enhance communication and preserve relationships between people with dementia and their family members. Such techniques have the potential to be advised by Speech and Language Therapists working in dementia care as part of tailored, relationship‐centred care and support that they provide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is widely acknowledged that children with developmental language disorder (DLD) predominantly have difficulties in the areas of grammar and vocabulary, with preserved pragmatic skills. Consequently, few studies focus on the pragmatic skills of children with DLD, and there is a distinct lack of studies examining the effectiveness of pragmatic interventions. Aims: To carry out a systematic review of the literature on pragmatic interventions for children with DLD. Methods & Procedures: This systematic review was registered with PROSPERO (ID = CRD42017067239). A systematic search in seven databases yielded 1031 papers, of which 11 met our inclusion criteria. The included papers focused on interventions for children with DLD (mean = 3–18 years), enhancing oral language pragmatic skills, published between January 2006 and May 2020, and were based on a group‐study design such as randomized control trial or pre‐post‐testing. Study participants were monolingual speakers. The quality of papers was appraised using the Cochrane Risk of bias tool for randomized controlled trials. Outcomes & Results: There was a high degree of variability between the included intervention studies, especially regarding intensity, intervention targets and outcomes. The evidence suggested that pragmatic intervention is feasible for all models of delivery (individual, small and large group) and that interventions for pragmatic language are mostly focused on encouragement of conversation and narrative skills observed through parent–child interaction or shared book‐reading activities. Conclusions & Implications: This study highlights the importance of promoting and explicitly teaching pragmatic skills to children with DLD in structured interventions. A narrative synthesis of the included studies revealed that in addition to direct intervention, indirect intervention can also contribute to improving oral pragmatic skills of children with DLD. What this paper adds: What is already known on the subject?: An increasing number of studies have shown that difficulties in acquiring pragmatic language is not only present in children with autism. What this study adds to existing knowledge?: Interventions for pragmatic language in children with DLD are mostly focused on encouragement of conversation and narrative skills, very often through parent–child interaction or shared book‐reading activities. Interventions that target language pragmatic are feasible for all models of delivery (individual, small and large group). What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: The efficacy of the existing studies varies, and it is difficult to give recommendations regarding the intensity and duration of the specific intervention. In addition to offering pragmatic intervention directly from a specialist, pragmatic interventions can also be carried out indirectly if the intervention is under the continuous supervision of a specialist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Those supporting children and young people who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) contribute to ongoing complex decision‐making about communication aid selection and support. Little is known about how these decisions are made in practice and how attributes of the communication aid are described or considered. Aims: To understand how communication aid attributes were described by those involved in AAC recommendations and support for children and young people, and how these attributes were described as impacting on AAC use. Methods & Procedures: A secondary qualitative analysis was completed of interview and focus group data from 91 participants involved in the support of 22 children and young people. Attributes of communication aids described by participants were extracted as themes and this paper reports a descriptive summary of the identified software (non‐hardware) attributes. Main Contribution: Decisions were described in terms of comparisons between commercially available pre‐existing vocabulary packages. Attributes related to vocabulary, graphic representation, consistency and intuitiveness of design, and ease of editing were identified. Developmental staging of vocabularies, core and fringe vocabulary, and vocabulary personalization were attributes that were described as being explicitly considered in decisions. The potential impact of graphic symbol choice did not seem to be considered strongly. The physical and social environment was described as the predominant factor driving the choice of a number of attributes. Conclusions & Implications: Specific attributes that appear to be established in decision‐making in these data have limited empirical research literature. Terms used in the literature to describe communication aid attributes were not observed in these data. Practice‐based evidence does not appear to be supported by the available research literature and these findings highlight several areas where empirical research is needed in order to provide a robust basis for practice. What This Paper Adds: What is already known on the subject: Communication aid attributes are viewed as a key consideration by practitioners and family members in AAC decision‐making; however, there are few empirical studies investigating language and communication attributes of communication aids. It is important to understand how those involved in AAC recommendations and support view communication aid attributes and the impact different attributes have. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: This study provides a picture of how communication aids are described by practitioners and family members involved in AAC support of children and young people. A range of attributes is identified from the analysis of these qualitative data as well as information about how participants perceive these attributes as informing decisions. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: This study provides a basis on which practitioners and others involved in AAC support for children and young people can review and reflect on their own practice and so improve the outcomes of AAC decisions. The study provides a list of attributes that appear to be considered in practice and so also provides a resource for researchers looking to ensure there is a strong empirical basis for AAC decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although there is a growing body of literature on cognitive and language processing in bilingual children with developmental language disorder (DLD), there is a major gap in the evidence for language intervention. Critically, speech–language therapists are often required to make clinical decisions for language intervention on specific domains, such as phonology, vocabulary, morphosyntax and literacy. Aims: To examine evidence for language intervention and cross‐language transfer effects in bilingual children with DLD. Specifically, the study aimed to review intervention evidence targeting non‐linguistic cognitive skills and six areas of language: phonology, vocabulary, morphosyntax, pragmatics, narrative skills and literacy. Methods & Procedures: We carried out searches in five electronic databases: CINAHL, Scopus, Psychinfo, Proquest and Sciencedirect. Data from selected papers were extracted and organized into the three following categories: study information, participant information and intervention information. Critical appraisal for selected papers was conducted using a quality assessment tool (QAT). Outcomes & Results: We included 14 papers in the review. The majority indicated evidence for vocabulary intervention. There was limited evidence for intervention targeting phonology or morphosyntax. Cross‐language generalization effects were evident for vocabulary, but in some instances also reported for morphosyntax and literacy. Conclusions & Implications: The present review indicates that there is a significant gap in the literature regarding language intervention for several key language areas such as morphosyntax, narrative skills and literacy. There are only limited data for the effects of cross‐language generalization indicating that more research is needed in this area specifically for skills beyond vocabulary. What this paper adds: What is already known on the subject: Previous studies have examined the effects of bi‐ and monolingual intervention in bilingual children with DLD. Although the results indicated superior effects for bilingual compared with monolingual intervention, language intervention evidence in specific language domains (e.g., vocabulary, literacy) has not been investigated. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: This study will add intervention evidence specific to language domains such as phonology, vocabulary, morphosyntax, pragmatics, narrative skills and literacy. Additionally, we have synthesized intervention evidence on non‐linguistic cognition given that these skills are often impaired in bilingual children with DLD. The review has also demonstrated evidence for the effects of cross‐language transfer beyond vocabulary skills, especially when the intervention was provided in the home language. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: Although there was a lack of intervention evidence in language domains such as pragmatics, the results indicated some evidence for intervention targeting vocabulary. However, positive effects of cross‐language generalization were not constrained to vocabulary but were also reported for intervention targeting mean length of utterance and literacy in the home language. This result indicates an interactive nature of the two languages, as well as provides further evidence for supporting home language(s) in intervention. Finally, intervention targeting non‐linguistic cognition may yield additional cross‐domain generalization to language skills specifically for bilingual children with DLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a rare neurodegenerative brain disorder characterized by declining language ability. There is currently no way to reverse or slow the course of the progressive brain degeneration, nor is there a cure for PPA. Throughout the course of the disease, any treatment must therefore be palliative in nature and should be designed to manage symptoms and improve the quality of life of the affected person. There is little information in the medical literature about strategies to make meaningful improvements to the quality of life of people with PPA written from the perspective of those living with this condition. Aims: I have a clinical diagnosis of the nonfluent/agrammatic variant of PPA (nfvPPA), supported by imaging. In this report I discuss my experience of the progressive loss of language and communication skills, and detail the challenges I have been facing. I also describe how my quality of life has been enhanced by the early initiation of treatment focusing on communication strategies targeted to my specific impairments and designed to support my individual interests and goals. Methods & Procedures: I was fortunate to obtain an early diagnosis from a cognitive neurologist experienced with PPA. From the onset of my language difficulties, I have received excellent personalized care from a multidisciplinary medical team including speech–language pathologists, a cognitive neurologist and other doctors. Main Contributions: My life during the early stage of nfvPPA has been enriched by personalized care focused on supporting the particular activities, interests and goals that are most important and meaningful to me. As my disease has progressed, I have benefited from an evolving range of strategies and adaptations targeted to the specific deficits in the areas of speaking, writing and reading that I have been facing at any given time. In addition, I have adopted methods to enhance the benefit of these language‐directed strategies. And I have been employing evidence‐based approaches that improve general brain health and thereby indirectly support my language. Conclusions & Implications: My experience represents a model for the personalized care of people in the early stage of nfvPPA. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on the subject: There is minimal information in the medical literature describing the subjective experience of a person with PPA. There is little information in the medical literature about strategies to make meaningful improvements to the quality of life of people in the early stage of PPA. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: I have a clinical diagnosis of nfvPPA, supported by imaging. In this paper I give a first‐person account of my experience of the progressive loss of language and communication skills, and I detail the challenges I have been facing. I describe how my quality of life during the early stage of nfvPPA has been enhanced by an evolving range of strategies and adaptations tailored to my speech and language deficits as they have arisen. These compensatory strategies have focused on supporting the particular activities, interests and goals that are most important and meaningful to me. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: The description of my subjective experience of the progressive loss of language and communication skills offers insight for speech–language pathologists, neurologists and other professionals involved in the clinical care of people in the early stage of nfvPPA. My experience represents a model for the personalized clinical care of people in the early stage of this disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aims Methods Results Conclusions What this paper adds What is already known on the subject What this paper adds to the existing knowledge What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this study? Phonological difficulties are prevalent in children with speech and/or language disorders and may hamper their later language outcomes and academic achievements. These children often form a significant proportion of speech and language therapists’ caseloads. There is a shortage of information on evidence‐based interventions for improving phonological skills in children and adolescents with speech and language disorder.The aim of this systematic literature review and meta‐analysis was to systematically examine the effects of different intervention approaches on speech production accuracy and phonological representation skills in children with speech and language disorders.A preregistered systematic review (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews ID: CRD42017076075) adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines was completed. Seven electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, ERIC, PsychINFO, Cochrane Library, SCOPUS and Linguistics & Language Behavior Abstracts) were searched for studies related to oral language interventions with children with developmental speech and/or language disorder (mean age ranging from 3–18 years) published between January 2006 and August 2022. The included articles reported intervention studies with a group design in which speech production accuracy was the outcome measure. Studies were appraised using the Cochrane risk of bias tool, and individual effect sizes were calculated using standardised means differences when enough data was available. A meta‐analysis was conducted obtaining the average standardised mean difference d. Heterogeneity, influence of possible moderator variables and publication bias were explored.The 23 studies that met the inclusion criteria presented low‐medium risk of bias. Nine effect sizes were obtained from seven of these studies that presented a pre‐post‐test with a control group design. Medium‐high average effect sizes were found in phonological accuracy. Heterogeneity was found between individual effect sizes. Significant moderator variables and publication bias were not detected.The results of this meta‐analysis indicate positive effects on speech production accuracy. Based on this review, further improvements in the quality of reporting for intervention research are required in developing the evidence base for practice. An increasing number of interventions is available for children and adolescents with developmental speech and/or language disorders. Previous reviews suggest relatively low levels of evidence of interventions having phonology as an outcome measure. This review and meta‐analysis summarise the intervention evidence from a substantial body of group design studies, indicating positive results from a range of interventions with phonological outcomes. It highlights the need to systematically implement and replicate different intervention procedures to understand factors that will maximise positive outcomes and to grow the evidence base for best practice. Tentative evidence is emerging for the effectiveness of various approaches in enhancing speech production accuracy skills of children and adolescents with developmental speech and/or language disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Methods and Procedures Outcomes and Results Conclusions and Implications WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on this subject What this paper adds to existing knowledge What are the clinical implications of this work? This longitudinal study investigated the language skills, phonological working memory and lexical‐tone perception of Mandarin‐speaking late‐talkers (LTs) and those with typical language development (TLD) at 27 months, while also examining their connections with novel word‐referent mapping (W‐R mapping) through eye‐tracking at 33 months.Participants included 22 Mandarin‐speaking 27‐month‐old LTs and 22 toddlers with TLD. Data on expressive and receptive language abilities, as well as phonological working memory and lexical‐tone perception, were collected when participants were 27 months old. An eye‐tracking paradigm was further employed during the word‐learning tasks, which included W‐R mapping and word‐identification test (W‐I test) phases at 33 months. Multilevel models were used to analyse participants’ gaze pattern trajectories.At 27 months, LT toddlers exhibited poorer language skills (receptive: p = 0.015, expressive: p < 0.001), lexical‐tone perception (p < 0.001) and phonological working memory (p < 0.001) compared to those with TLD, even after considering maternal educational level and participants’ fine motor ability. During the W‐I test phase, we observed that LT toddlers showed a slower increase in fixations on the novel target image while listening to the corresponding novel word over time, compared to TLD toddlers (linear: p = 0.011, quadratic: p = 0.007) after adding confounders. Further, expressive language ability at 27 months old was a predictor of their newly established W‐R mappings at 33 months old (p = 0.016). Additionally, the toddler's phonological working memory and lexical‐tone perception were associated with their expressive language ability (p = 0.001 and < 0.001).These findings indicate that the novel W‐R mapping is not as robust in LTs as in TLDs, and the skills necessary for word learning share similarities with a wide range of expressive language abilities. Moreover, poor expressive language abilities were associated with deficits in lexical processing abilities; that is, phonological working memory and lexical‐tone perception. These findings suggest the need for interventions aimed at improving LTs’ lexical processing abilities to strengthen their lagging word‐learning skills at toddlerhood. Late‐talkers (LTs) exhibit delays in expressive vocabulary development. Furthermore, they also perform poorly in word learning. The eye‐tracking paradigm was employed and found that novel word‐referent mapping (W‐R mapping) is not as robust in LTs as in those with typical language development. Toddlers’ early expressive language ability could predict their ability to establish novel W‐R mappings. Furthermore, the better the phonological working memory and lexical‐tone perception of LTs are, the better their early expressive language ability is. Interventions might consider incorporating strategies to improve phonological working memory and lexical‐tone perception to help Mandarin‐speaking LTs enhance linguistic capacities and build robust novel W‐R mapping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aim Method Main Contribution Conclusion WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on this subject What this paper adds to existing knowledge What are the clinical implications of this work? Accessibility of data visualization has been explored for users with visual disabilities but the needs of users with language disabilities have seldom been considered.This scoping review synthesised what is known about data visualization for adults with language disabilities, specifically the acquired language disability, aphasia and Developmental Language Disorder. It sought to extract key findings and identify what practices support effective visualization for decision making for people with language disabilities.Papers were included if they investigated visualization of data, and the consumers of the data visualization were people with aphasia or developmental language disability. Seven databases were searched: CINAHL, Academic Search, Medline, PsychINFO, Ovid, ACM Digital Library and IEEE Xplore. Included studies were charted to extract title, author(s), year, country, paper type, scientific field, participant number(s), participant group(s), main topic, subtopic, method, task description, task category, data visualization, summary, key findings relevant to the review question, and guidelines or recommendations. Narrative synthesis was used to describe how people with language disability have interacted with data visualization from a range of literature.Six studies (seven publications) were included in the review. One study came from the field of health, one from a disability rights collaboration and four studies from computer science. No studies satisfying the review criteria explored data visualization for Developmental Language Disorder; however, five studies explored participants with cognitive disabilities that included impairments of language, so these were included. A range of visualization designs were found. Studies predominantly explored understanding of visualization (4/6). One study explored how to express data visually, and one explored the use of the visualization that is, for an action, choice, or decision. Cognitively accessible data visualization practices were described in four papers and synthesized. Supportive practices reported were reducing the cognitive load associated with processing a visualization and increasing personal relevance of data visualization.Accessible data visualization for adults with aphasia and Developmental Language Disorder has only minimally been explored. Practices to specifically support users with language disability are not yet apparent. As data use in making everyday decisions is widespread, future research should explore how people with language disabilities make use of data visualization. Visual resources are used widely to support people with language disabilities in understanding of language. That is, icons, maps timelines and so forth, are used to support auditory processing. However, data visualization is used routinely by people without a language disability to support everyday decisions for example, visualization of live traffic data is used to provide users with the best route to their destination. It is unclear whether any work has explored data visualization for people with language disabilities.  This paper brings together research on the use of data visualization by adults with either Developmental Language Disorder or aphasia, collectively people with language disabilities. It highlights a gap in the design of inclusive data visualization for language disabilities and the minimal research exploring the use of data visualization for decision making in these populations. Access to data can be empowering. It has potential to enable agency in decisions and increase social participation. The existing gap in knowledge about how to design inclusive data visualization for people with language disabilities thus poses a risk of exclusion and threats to informed decision making. Highlighting the current field of literature may drive research and clinical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Method Results Conclusion WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on this subject What this paper adds to existing knowledge What are the clinical implications of this work? This study was designed based on the need to verify the effectiveness of education in the vocology area concerning refining perceptual auditory skills. The purpose of the project described in this paper was to examine the effect of knowledge and skills training during a 2‐week voice disorders graduate course on auditory‐perceptual skills of pre‐professional speech‐language pathologists. The training effect was evaluated by comparing pre‐ and post‐course results of ratings of voice quality using auditory‐perceptual measures.A cohort of 24 graduate students in speech‐language pathology participated in this study. Each student rated a total of 24 voice samples of typical and disordered voice quality from a database using Consensus Auditory‐Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE‐V). The same voice samples were rated before and after the training, in randomised order. The speakers ranged in age from 35 to 80 years; 16 identified as females and 8 as males. A total of 16 samples were associated with various degrees of dysphonia of organic and functional aetiologies; the remaining 8 voice samples included in the study were classified as normal. The training involved different components including knowledge and auditory‐perceptual skills as part of a voice class offered as an intensive 2‐week course with daily blocks of 4 h sessions. Exploratory comparisons of results to objective outcomes were conducted through comparisons with computer‐generated indicators of the Cepstral Spectral Index of Dysphonia (CSID), a component of the Analysis of Dysphonia in Speech and Voice (ADSV) software from Pentax for capturing the CSID.There was a significant increase in ratings of roughness, breathiness, loudness, pitch and overall severity after the course. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in the intra‐ and interrater reliability post training. Statistically significant positive indications were found in correlations between mean perceptual ratings and the acoustic measure of CSID. Reliability of data was measured by using Pearson's correlations. Intrarater reliability resulted in values of ≥0.90 in all parameters. Similar findings were demonstrated by intraclass coefficients used to estimate interrater consistency: all values were >0.90 but in the Loudness parameter [r (22) = 0.60].Effectiveness of the training in improving the auditory perceptual skills of students was based on the increased reliability of ratings. Indications of successful implementation and outcomes on auditory‐perpetual training procedures in classroom environments will support the development of effective educational methods, which will in turn lead to increased efficacy of service delivery in voice disorders. The effects of training on perceptual assessment performance have been indicated in the literature. Past evidence has demonstrated that various types of training produce a significant impact on auditory perceptual skills. Although dedicated research has been advancing over the past decade, further aspects of auditory‐perceptual reliable assessment include queries about specific training approaches, optimal duration, and interval time for recalibration. While past research suggests that increased exposure in identifying voice characteristics impacts assessment skills, there are limited published data on the relationship of knowledge and skill in association with teaching and learning environments, particularly at the pre‐professional stage. Practical data from actual classroom application constitute an ideal scenario for inspecting effectiveness of graduate training in voice disorders involving acquiring knowledge and applied skills, including auditory‐perceptual voice evaluation. This study is an attempt to expand on previous literature, particularly by examining effects of auditory‐perceptual skills training in graduate students following teaching and learning in a systematic 2‐week voice disorders course. Outcomes indicative of successful training procedures in a classroom environment will support the development of effective educational methods to increase efficacy of service delivery in voice disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aims Methods Main Contribution Conclusions WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on the subject What this paper adds to existing knowledge What are the clinical implications of this work? Communication impairments are a leading concern for parent caregivers of individuals with rare neurodevelopmental disorders (RNDDs). Clinical trials of disease modifying therapies require valid and responsive outcome measures that are relevant to individuals with RNDDs. Identifying and evaluating current psychometric properties for communication measures is a critical step towards the selection and use of appropriate instruments.This systematic review offers (1) a description of parent‐reported communication measures and (2) evidence for their psychometric properties, in RNDDs.The systematic review protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; CRD42022334649). MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase, PsychINFO, Web of Science, CINAHL Plus, Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry were searched from inception to August 2023. Methodological assessment of quality was completed using the COnsensus‐based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist. Parent‐reported measures used in observational studies and clinical trials were identified. Data on utility, reliability and validity for RNDDs were extracted.Sixteen parent‐reported communication measures were used in RNDD research, the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales being most commonly used. Validation data in RNDDs were identified for six of these measures. Limitations related to sample size or the scope of psychometric testing.Many communication measures have been used for RNDDs but there are few data validating their use. Valid and reliable methods of measuring communication in persons with RNDDs is a priority for future high‐quality clinical trials. Communication is a critical domain for families with a child with a rare neurodevelopmental disorder (RNDD). Validated outcome measures are essential for accurate evaluation and interpretation of responses to treatments in clinical trials. We identified 16 parent‐reported communication measures that have been used with RNDDs, but only six measures had validation data for at least one RNDD. High quality evidence is accumulating, with all validation studies in this review published between 2020 to 2023. Modifications of existing measures may be required to assess communication for RNDDs. This systematic review catalogues the available psychometric data for communication measures and indicates an ongoing need for new validation studies to ensure they are fit‐for‐purpose for upcoming clinical trials in RNDDs. This review will inform the selection of communication measures for clinical trials and research studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aims Methods and Procedures Outcomes and Results Conclusions and Implications WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on the subject What this paper adds to the existing knowledge What are the clinical implications of this work? For over 30 years, parental reports have been used to study the vocabulary of children under 4 years of age. Research exploring parental checklists as a measure of vocabulary in older children is very limited. Typically, authors of parental checklists report the reliability of the developed tools but do not explore validity in terms of the agreement between parental assessments and the children's actual word knowledge.We aimed to explore the reliability and validity of a parental checklist for assessing vocabulary in children aged between 3 and 6 years. Furthermore, we aimed to evaluate the agreement between indirect (parental checklist) and direct (picture naming and picture recognition tasks) assessments of children's vocabulary.A group of 94 typically developing monolingual Polish‐speaking children aged between 3 and 6 years were first directly tested onsite with picture naming and picture recognition tasks (Cross‐Linguistic Lexical Tasks). Subsequently, the participants’ parents completed an online checklist containing the same set of 128 items and marked all the words that they had ever heard in their child's spontaneous speech.The parental checklist demonstrated very high internal consistency. The scores of the parental checklist and vocabulary tasks were moderately correlated. We compared the total number of words marked by parents and the number of items correctly identified by children in the picture naming and picture recognition tasks. In picture naming, we found no difference between the children's scores and the number of words selected by parents. However, parents selected significantly fewer words than children correctly recognised in the picture recognition task. When data were analysed at the level of individual items (i.e., whether parents selected exactly the same items that children answered correctly), we found that the level of agreement was low. The level of agreement correlated negatively with the children's vocabulary; that is, the more words a child knew, the lower the agreement between the direct measure and the parental checklist.Parental checklists should be used with caution in children aged between 3 and 6 years, especially if the assessed children have a large vocabulary and if item analysis is planned. Such checklists may be of more use in younger children or in children with limited vocabulary. Parental checklists are commonly used to assess the vocabulary of children younger than 4 years of age. Previous research has indicated that parental checklists are reliable in terms of internal consistency and valid in terms of predictive and convergent validity. This study introduces a parental checklist designed for assessing the vocabulary of monolingual Polish‐speaking children aged between 3 and 6 years. Statistical analyses reveal that while the parental checklist exhibits high reliability, and the scores on the checklist correlate with direct measures of vocabulary, the agreement between parental reports and direct vocabulary measures (i.e., validity) is notably low, particularly when examining individual test items. These findings underscore the importance of exercising caution when using parental vocabulary checklists with children aged between 3 and 6 years. These checklists can serve as a replacement for direct vocabulary tests only when the general/overall score is needed. However, when specific words are the subject of interest, parental reports may not be a valid measure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aims Methods & Procedures Outcomes & Results Conclusions & Implications WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on the subject What this study adds What are the clinical implications of this work? The conceptualisation of autism as a disorder where Theory of Mind (ToM) and pragmatics are fundamentally impaired has prompted a wealth of research on autistic deficits, most of which is characterised by two main assumptions: first, that autistic people would display said deficits, if present, with any conversation partner and in any situation; second, that neurotypical people do not present these deficits, regardless of the conversation partner. However, this is not necessarily reflected in autistic accounts of the way they experience social cognition and pragmatics.The present paper aims to investigate the autistic experience of communication with both autistic and neurotypical people, with a particular focus on their perception of the ability of autistic and neurotypical people to understand their communicative intentions.Participants, 23 adult Italian autistic people without intellectual disability or language disorders, were recruited online. Two virtual focus groups of 2 hours each were conducted, transcribed and analysed through thematic analysis with a descriptive phenomenological approach by two independent researchers.Six themes were developed from the analysis, the most relevant being Autistic–Autistic communication and Autistic ToM. The results, in line with the Double Empathy theory, suggest there seem to be important differences between neurotypical and autistic people's ToM. These appear to make it easier for autistic people to communicate with one another, as well as to create difficulties for neurotypical people to understand autistic people, not just the other way around.These results seem to confirm that challenges in cross‐neurotype communication are better interpreted as mutual miscomprehension and reciprocal differences in ToM rather than deficits on the autistic part. This calls for a reframing of ToM and/or the need for autistic ToM as a construct, of which neurotypical people seem to be lacking. Moreover, these insights should be taken into account for speech and language therapy and clinical practice in general, advocating for a neurodiversity‐informed view of co‐constructed communication as well as for a broader societal change in which therapists can play a crucial role, through participatory approaches or raising awareness in their daily practice. Autism is conceived as characterised by social cognition and communication difficulties, often linked to Theory of Mind (ToM) deficits. However, recent research suggested variations in ToM abilities within the autistic population and proposed alternative theories like the Double Empathy theory. Nevertheless, only a few studies examined how autistic individuals perceive communication across neurotypes. Autistic individuals seem to find it easier to communicate with other autistic people, and they identify specific characteristics of neurotypical communication that hinder successful communication. Moreover, neurotypical people are perceived as having difficulties in autistic ToM, which seems to emerge as a relevant and needed construct in light of the Double Empathy problem. These findings can inform speech and language therapy and clinical practice about the potential gains of raising awareness on the Double Empathy problem and the higher communication ease inside the autistic community, alongside individualised support. Participatory approaches and closer collaboration with the autistic community also seem to be crucial for therapists to help improve communication experiences for autistic individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aim Methods and Procedure Outcomes and Results Conclusion WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on the subject What this paper adds to existing knowledge What are the clinical implications of this work? Perceptual and speech production abilities of children with cochlear implants (CIs) are usually tested by word and sentence repetition or naming tests. However, these tests are quite far apart from daily life linguistic contexts.Here, we describe a way of investigating the link between language comprehension and anticipatory verbal behaviour promoting the use of more complex listening situations.The setup consists in watching the audio‐visual dialogue of two actors. Children's gaze switches from one speaker to the other serve as a proxy of their prediction abilities. Moreover, to better understand the basis and the impact of anticipatory behaviour, we also measured children's ability to understand the dialogue content, their speech perception and memory skills as well as their rhythmic skills, that also require temporal predictions. Importantly, we compared children with CI performances with those of an age‐matched group of children with normal hearing (NH).While children with CI revealed poorer speech perception and verbal working memory abilities than NH children, there was no difference in gaze anticipatory behaviour. Interestingly, in children with CI only, we found a significant correlation between dialogue comprehension, perceptual skills and gaze anticipatory behaviour.Our results extend to a dialogue context of previous findings showing an absence of predictive deficits in children with CI. The current design seems an interesting avenue to provide an accurate and objective estimate of anticipatory language behaviour in a more ecological linguistic context also with young children. Children with cochlear implants seem to have difficulties extracting structure from and learning sequential input patterns, possibly due to signal degradation and auditory deprivation in the first years of life. They also seem to have a reduced use of contextual information and slow language processing among children with hearing loss. Here we show that when adopting a rather complex linguistic context such as watching a dialogue of two individuals, children with cochlear implants are able to use the speech and language structure to anticipate gaze switches to the upcoming speaker. The present design seems an interesting avenue to provide an accurate and objective estimate of anticipatory behaviour in a more ecological and dynamic linguistic context. Importantly, this measure is implicit and it has been previously used with very young (normal‐hearing) children, showing that they spontaneously make anticipatory gaze switches by age two. Thus, this approach may be of interest to refine the speech comprehension assessment at a rather early age after cochlear implantation where explicit behavioural tests are not always reliable and sensitive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aims Methods & Procedures Outcomes & Results Conclusions & Implications WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on the subject What this paper adds to the existing knowledge What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? Parental input plays a central role in typical language acquisition and development. In autism spectrum disorder (ASD), characterized by social communicative and language difficulties, parental input presents an important avenue for investigation as a target for intervention. A rich body of literature has identified which aspects of grammatical complexity and lexical diversity are most associated with child language ability in both typical development and autism. Yet, the majority of these studies are conducted with English‐speaking children, thus potentially overlooking nuances in parental input derived from cross‐linguistic variation.To examine the differences in verbal parental input to Bulgarian‐ and English‐speaking children with ASD. To examine whether aspects of verbal parental input found to be concurrent predictors of English‐speaking children's expressive language ability are also predictors of the expressive language of Bulgarian‐speaking children with ASD.We compared parental input to Bulgarian‐speaking (N = 37; 2;7–9;10 years) and English‐speaking (N = 37; 1;8–4;9 years) children with ASD matched on expressive language. Parent–child interactions were collected during free play with developmentally appropriate toys. These interactions were transcribed, and key measures of parental input were extracted.English‐speaking parents produced more word tokens and word types than Bulgarian‐speaking parents. However, Bulgarian parents produced more verbs in relation to nouns and used more statements and exclamations but asked fewer questions than English‐speaking parents. In addition, child age and parents’ use of questions were significant concurrent predictors of child expressive vocabulary.This is one of the first studies to conduct a cross‐linguistic comparison of parental input in ASD. The differences found emphasize the need to further study parental input to Bulgarian children and adapt naturalistic parent‐mediated interventions to the local language and its specific characteristics. A rich body of literature has identified the specific aspects of grammatical complexity, lexical diversity, and question‐asking that are concurrently and longitudinally associated with the language ability of children with typical development and of children with ASD. Yet, the majority of these studies are conducted with English‐speaking children. The present study finds that there are specific differences in verbal parental input to Bulgarian‐ and English‐speaking children with autism in terms of lexical composition and question‐asking. Bulgarian parents used more verbs than nouns, and the opposite pattern was found for English‐speaking parents. In addition, Bulgarian parents asked fewer questions but used more statements and exclamations. Nevertheless, parental question use was significantly correlated with children's language ability across both groups, suggesting that question‐asking should be further examined as a potential target for parent‐mediated language interventions for Bulgarian children with autism. Most language and social communication interventions for autism are designed and piloted with English‐speaking children. These interventions are often simply translated and used in different countries, with different populations and in different contexts. However, considering that one of the defining characteristics of autism is language difficulty, more studies should examine (1) how these language difficulties manifest in languages other than English, and (2) what characterizes verbal parental input in these other contexts. Such research investigations should inform future language and social communication interventions. The present study emphasizes the cross‐linguistic differences between Bulgarian‐ and English‐speaking parents’ verbal input to their children with autism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aims Methods & Procedures Main Contribution Conclusions & Implications WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on the subject What this paper adds to the existing knowledge What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? Few formal instruments exist to assess the communicative competence of patients hospitalized in intensive care units (ICUs). This can limit interventions by health professionals.To map the categories and instruments for assessing the communicative competence of adult patients with minimal response in ICUs.A scoping review was carried out following the Joanna Briggs Institute protocol between February and March 2022 and using the MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, Scielo, Business Source Complete (via EBSCOhost), Academic Search Complete (via EBSCOhost) and Web of Science databases, in Portuguese, English and Spanish.Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. The different communication and pain assessment protocols covered awareness, cognition, sensory capacity, motor capacity, language, speech and literacy.The present review offers a starting point for the construction of a formal assessment instrument to enable clinicians to implement an augmentative or alternative communication system (AACS) for the voluntary, independent and active participation of patients. Patients in ICUs are subject to various forms of treatment and continuous and intensive monitoring, compromising their capacity to communicate and actively participate (e.g., sharing symptoms and making decisions). Although there is some awareness of their disadvantage in such a regard, few protocols of assessment of communicative competence have been adapted to patients with a minimum response. The present review highlights different protocols for the assessment of communication and pain. They include the following categories: awareness, sensory capacity, auditory and visual acuity, positioning and motor capacity, language, speech, and literacy. The review offers a starting point for the construction of a formal assessment instrument encompassing the aforementioned categories, along with duly validated guidelines for its application. Our formal assessment instrument takes into account the need to adapt to different patient profiles. It is hoped that it will provide speech therapists and other health professionals with the information required to implement an AACS in which patients participate actively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aim Methods & Procedures Outcomes & Results Main Contribution Conclusions & Implications WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on the subject What this study adds to the existing knowledge What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? Based on stakeholder conversations, speech and language therapists have anecdotally observed cases of dysphagia with suspected laryngeal hypersensitivity. These presentations have been coined as ‘muscle tension dysphagia’ often with concurrent laryngeal sensitivity symptoms. However, the role of laryngeal hypersensitivity in dysphagia is not fully understood. Knowledge user engagement highlights a lack of clarity around diagnosis and investigative approaches, limited clinical guidance and inconsistent practice, which leads to inequity in service delivery and care.To identify and present the published literature regarding the definitions and clinical identification tools used during the management of laryngeal hypersensitivity related dysphagia.A scoping review was conducted following Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and EQUATOR PRISMA‐ScR guidance. Patient and stakeholder engagement was embedded at each review stage. The protocol was registered with the Open Science Framework: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/CUXYN. A multidatabase search strategy identified literature published between 2012 and 2022. A narrative description was used to report the study findings.The search identified 2590 citations. The full paper screening was completed on 88 studies, with 17 studies included in data extraction. There was a wide range of terminology and assessment approaches which varied across different clinical settings. The most cited term was ‘muscle tension dysphagia’. The most common assessments tools were videofluoroscopy, fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing and videostroboscopy, predominantly used in speech and language therapy and/or Ear, Nose and Throat settings. Gastroesophageal and respiratory investigations were less frequently cited.This review details the current evidence related to the terminology and assessment tools cited in laryngeal hypersensitivity related dysphagia to improve clinician knowledge and understanding. Patient and stakeholder involvement indicated that future research needs to: optimize consensus of terminology, and improve consistent identification methods, service provision and treatment approaches.This review highlights the lack of consistent terminology across the literature. A wide range of assessment tools report nonspecific positive clinical features and a lack of significant instrumental assessment findings. Patients and stakeholders identify the research priorities should improve clinician awareness, knowledge, guidance and evidence to support patient care. Swallowing difficulties can occur in adults for a number of different reasons, such as neurological, respiratory or physiological conditions. Swallowing difficulties with no evidence of biomechanical or structural impairment on instrumental assessment and of unknown cause (termed idiopathic functional dysphagia or medically unexplained dysphagia) is a poorly understood phenomenon. More recently, concurrent oropharyngeal dysphagia and laryngeal hypersensitivity and/or muscle tension have been posited as a potential underlying mechanism. This scoping review contributes to our expanding knowledge of the role of laryngeal hypersensitivity in dysphagia by providing an overview of the current evidence related to the terminology and assessment tools reported in the literature. Embedded patient and stakeholder involvement further deepens real‐world insights into the increased referrals for these individuals with increasing uncertainty in how to best assess, manage and support patients. Patients equally have reported that reduced professional awareness and inequalities in service delivery pathways result in poor patient experience and quality of life, and healthcare economic burden. This scoping review draws our attention to an area of practice which has received little attention in both clinical practice and academic research. First, the study raises awareness of this population and the impact for services, speech and language therapists and clinicians; and second, highlights evidence–practice gaps with seldom consistency in the use of terminology and assessment approaches. The study provides priority research themes to expand our knowledge and understanding, as guided by the literature and patient and stakeholder input. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maintenance of speech outcomes following speech‐language therapy (SLT) in Parkinson's disease (PD) is an unmet expectation of people with PD (PWPD) and poorly defined in SLT practice. PD Check‐In, a model for supported self‐managed maintenance of speech following Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) LOUD was investigated. Aims: To investigate the impact of the semi‐structured component of PD Check‐In on the adoption of self‐management concepts and behaviours and the identification of facilitators, barriers and strategies for speech maintenance by PWPD over 24 months post‐treatment. Methods and procedure: Following LSVT LOUD, 16 PWPD participated in individual PD Check‐In semi‐structured discussions with a SLT at 6 and 12 weeks, and 6, 12 and 24 months post treatment. A two‐stage qualitative content analysis was applied: directed content analysis using categories from the theoretical framework of PD Check‐In followed by inductive content analysis to identify subcategories. Outcomes and results: Statements from PWPD indicated adoption of seven concepts of self‐management across participants and across time. Six concepts from the theoretical framework of PD Check‐In (partnerships, self‐reflection, maintenance barriers and facilitators, revision of LSVT LOUD skill, goal setting and maintenance strategies), and one new category, participation, emerged from the analysis. Self‐reflection, maintenance facilitators and barriers and participation were most prevalent in discussions. PWPD identified facilitators, barriers and strategies for maintenance across time points. Conclusions and implications: Statements from PWPD indicated a positive impact of SLT‐supported self‐management of speech using self‐tailored strategies for sustainable maintenance according to their individual circumstances and needs. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on this subject: People with Parkinson's disease (PWPD) have expressed their need for speech‐language therapy (SLT) services that are accessible for the duration of the condition and responsive to their expectation of maintaining speech following treatment. Outcomes for maintenance of the treatment effect following Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) LOUD are variable. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: This study presents the outcomes of five PD Check‐In interventions delivered in semi‐structured discussions between PWPD and a SLT over 24 months following LSVT LOUD for the development of self‐management skills and behaviours. PWPD adopted self‐management positively using self‐tailored strategies for sustainable maintenance according to their individual circumstances and needs. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: PWPD responded positively to the individual development of self‐management skills and behaviours over time. Individuality and flexible responsivity are features of PD Check‐In which resonate with PWPD and speak to SLT supported self‐managed maintenance of speech as a long‐term model for PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early language delay is exacerbated by social disadvantage. Factors such as parents' low levels of literacy, confidence and self‐perception can affect the capacity to act on advice received, critical to empowerment. Methods used to achieve successful health outcomes in socially disadvantaged clinical populations may need enhancing. Aims: To compare the impact of standard parent‐based intervention (PBI) to enhanced PBI for young children with speech, language and communication needs (SCLN) and their families living in more socially disadvantaged populations. Methods and Procedures: A multicentre clustered blind randomised controlled trial was used to compare the effect of parent‐based group interventions to improve early language development with children (mean age 27.5 months) from more socially disadvantaged populations with an expressive vocabulary of 40 or less single words. Intervention sessions were delivered by a speech and language therapist, over a 20‐week period. Participants received one of two interventions: (1) Standard Care – indirect group PBI – (PBI) (2) Enhanced Care: indirect group enhanced PBI – (EPBI). Both standardised and non‐standardised measures were used as outcomes. Parent engagement in the intervention was captured through analysis of attendance and the Parent Activation Measure – Speech & Language Therapy (PAM‐SLT) (Insignia Health, 2014). The PAM measures a person's knowledge, skills and confidence to manage their own health and well‐being (NHS England, 2018). In this study, activation referred to parents' knowledge, skills and confidence to manage their child's language development. Outcomes and Results: One hundred fifty‐five participants were randomised at baseline. Children in both groups made significant improvements in the outcome on MacArthur‐Bates Communicative Development Inventories Sentence Length, from pre‐intervention to post‐intervention and 6 months post‐intervention (p < 0.05). Changes in vocabulary and expressive language skills were more equivocal, showing wide variation in confidence intervals for both groups. Where parents attended at least one intervention session almost all effect sizes were in favour of the EPBI intervention. Parents' activation levels significantly increased for both groups (EPBI p < 0.001, PBI p = 0.003), with a moderate effect size in favour of EPBI (Hedges' G 0.37, confidence interval –0.02 to 0.76), although wide variation was found. Conclusions and Implications: This trial provides some evidence of facilitating the language development of children with SLCN from more socially disadvantaged areas through supporting caregivers. However, we found variation in outcomes; some children made excellent progress, whilst others did not. Further exploration of parent engagement and its relationship to child language outcomes will be valuable to understanding more about mechanisms of change in interventions that involve parents. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on the subject: Speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) have a knock‐on effect on emotional well‐being, school readiness, literacy and school attainment, putting children at increased risk of long‐term consequences such as poor literacy, mental health problems and unemployment. In disadvantaged areas, the prevalence of language difficulties is higher than elsewhere. Factors such as parents' low levels of literacy, confidence and self‐perception can affect the capacity to act on advice received, critical to empowerment. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: Children with SLCN from more socially disadvantaged areas can make improvements in their language development through parent intervention, although wide individual variation was found. There was some evidence that children achieve better outcomes with EPBI, which employed an interagency collaborative approach. Parent's engagement (activation levels) increased significantly over time with intervention, with the increase twice as big for EPBI. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: This trial provides some evidence that it is possible to facilitate the language development of children from more socially disadvantaged areas through supporting their caregivers. Further research would be useful to determine whether increases in parent engagement are related to adherence to intervention and change in child outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Sociometric studies and adult reports have established that children with Language Disorder (LD) are at risk of peer relationship difficulties. However, we have limited knowledge of how children with LD understand friendship, whom they deem as a good or bad friend, and what role their friendship concepts play in their relationships with peers. This exploratory study aimed to conduct a qualitative investigation into the friendship concepts that children with LD hold and to explore their strategies for making friends. Methods: We conducted multiple, art‐informed interviews on the topic of friendship with 14 children with LD at the age of 6–8 years. Participating children were based in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. They attended enhanced provision, specific speech and language classes and mainstream classrooms. We used framework analysis to map children's responses to Selman's (1979) developmental model of interpersonal understanding, which espouses a theory of children's social development within the context of peer relationships. Results: The understanding of friendship formation in children with LD varied from physical presence to mutual support and sharing. Children's ideas about a good/bad friend represented the lowest developmental stage. Participants from the mainstream classroom demonstrated the highest stages of interpersonal understanding. Children with LD did not mention their language abilities as a barrier to making friends. Conclusion: There are limited studies exploring friendship directly from children with LD, and this study provides insights into this gap, by utilising art‐informed interviews. Children's immature understanding of a good/bad friend points towards a potential susceptibility to false friends, which we suggest needs further empirical validation. We also found that children with LD did not pay attention to their language difficulties when making friends, which raises questions about the ways diagnoses are shared with children. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on the subject: Children with Language Disorder (LD) are at risk of peer relationship difficulties. Studies to date are based on sociometrics and adult reports. Only a few studies employ participatory approaches to research with children, directly engaging children with LD when exploring their friendships What this paper adds: This paper directly asks children with LD about their understanding of friendship and strategies for making friends.Physical proximity and play are important to children.s understanding of friendship especially in recognising good and bad friends. This indicates potential reasons for children with LD being susceptible to false friendsAdditionally, children with LD do not perceive language and communication as a barrier to making friends. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: Concepts around friendship and good/bad friends should be routinely assessed and targeted (if appropriate) in interventions. The study highlights the need to continue discussing practices around sharing diagnoses with children with LD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: People with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, posterior cortical atrophy and young onset Alzheimer's disease may experience language and communication difficulties. However, the role of speech and language interventions for people with these non‐language led dementias has received little attention. Aims: This study aimed to explore the experiences and perspectives of people living with these conditions, and their families, regarding their language and communication difficulties and how speech and language therapy could address these needs. Methods: This study employed a qualitative design to explore the experiences of people living with or caring for somebody with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, posterior cortical atrophy or young onset Alzheimer's disease, and to understand their opinions about speech and language therapy. Participants were recruited from a support service connected to a dementia clinic to attend one of five focus group meetings. Videorecorded focus groups and interviews were transcribed, and reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse data from people affected by each type of dementia. Results: A total of 25 participants were recruited to the study, with representation across the different forms of non‐language led dementias. The four main themes identified were: (1) communication difficulties as a key difficulty, (2) loss and loneliness, (3) speech and language therapy, and (4) the role of the caregiver. Sixteen subthemes were also identified which highlighted individual issues across disease types. Discussion: Although all the forms of dementia studied here are not considered to be language‐led, people with these conditions and/or their care partners identified speech, language and communication as common challenges. These communication difficulties were reported to have a negative impact on their social participation and mental health and participants felt speech and language interventions could help. There is a need for research exploring speech and language interventions developed for and with people with non‐language led dementias and their care partners, to ensure they meet the needs of the people they are designed for. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on the subject: People with primary progressive aphasia present with speech, language and communication difficulties, and several speech and language interventions have been developed to meet the needs of this population. However, people with non‐language led dementias may also experience speech, language and communication difficulties, and little is known about interventions that may address these difficulties. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: People living with or caring for somebody with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, posterior cortical atrophy and young onset Alzheimer's disease report experiencing speech, language and communication difficulties that impact on the person with dementia's social participation and mood. Participants in this study also shared their opinions about how speech and language interventions could help, from the earliest stages of the disease. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: Speech and language therapists need to address the individual speech, language and communication needs of people with dementias, even those that are not thought to be language‐led. Current speech and language therapy service provision does not meet the needs of people with non‐language led dementias and further research is required to develop interventions and services to meet these needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Evidence shows that 20%–30% of patients who aspirate do so silently. Research to date has not demonstrated clear evidence to indicate which patients are at higher risk of silent aspiration. Our aim was to use univariate logistic regression analysis of retrospective case review to determine potential patterns of silent aspiration. Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 455 fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) reports. The patients were divided into four groups: G1 – neurological diseases (n = 93), G2 – head and neck surgery (n = 200), G3 – gastroenterological diseases (n = 94) and G4 – other patients (n = 68). Data included the occurrence or absence of saliva penetration or aspiration, of silent fluid/solid food penetration or aspiration, type of penetration or aspiration, occurrence of cranial nerve paresis, radiotherapy and tracheostomy. Univariate logistic regression was used to evaluate independent risk factors of silent aspiration in the study population. Three models with different independent variables were considered. Results: There is a statistically significant difference in the frequency of occurrence of silent penetration and aspiration within the groups (p < 0.001), with intraglutative being most frequent. Fluid and food penetration and aspiration correlated with saliva penetration and aspiration in all groups (p < 0.001). Cranial nerve paresis (IX and X), radiotherapy and tracheostomy correlate with saliva penetration and aspiration (p = 0.020 for cranial nerve paresis; p = 0.004 for radiotherapy; p < 0.001 for tracheostomy). One hundred and fifteen patients (45.81%) in the subgroup of patients with intraglutative aspiration had cranial nerve paresis (IX, X or IX–X). Conclusions: Patients who should be prioritised or considered to be at a higher need of instrumental swallowing evaluation are those with IX and X cranial nerve paresis, tracheostomy and those who have had radiotherapy, with saliva swallowing problems, especially after paraganglioma, thyroid and parathyroid glands and middle and posterior fossa tumour surgery. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on the subject: Clinical signs of penetration or aspiration include coughing, throat clearing and voice changes, while silent penetration or aspiration patients aspirate without demonstrating any clinical symptoms. The most common consequences of silent aspiration include aspiration pneumonia, recurrent lower respiratory tract infections and respiratory failure. Additionally, malnutrition and dehydration can be indicators of silent aspiration. Patients may unknowingly reduce their oral intake and lose weight. Retrospective studies have shown that 20%–30% of patients aspirate silently (e.g. patients after stroke, acquired brain injury, head and neck cancer treatment, prolonged intubation). Clinical examination of swallowing can miss up to 50% of cases of silent aspiration. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: Currently, silent aspiration is often discussed in neurological literature, but its applications to head and neck surgery are limited. In this study, we identify head and neck surgery patients who should be prioritised or considered to be in higher need of instrumental swallowing evaluation due to a higher risk of silent aspiration. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: Post‐treatment structural changes can result in lower cranial nerve paresis (IX, X, XII) and face injury, in which vagus and glossopharyngeal nerves are injured. After tracheostomy and radiotherapy, patients with problems swallowing saliva need careful clinical examination, particularly cranial nerve examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maternal input plays an important role in influencing linguistic development during the first years of life, and it is evident that mothers adapt their language according to their child's characteristics. Recently, it was demonstrated that maternal input addressed to children with sex chromosome trisomies (SCTs) at 8 months of age is prosodically and functionally different from that addressed to typically developing (TD) peers. Aims: The study aimed at analysing maternal input at 24 months when the presence of a language delay could be more evident than during the preverbal stage. We were interested in examining if maternal input was influenced by a diagnosis of SCT (by comparing children with SCT and TD children) or by children's linguistic level (by comparing children with weak lexical ability versus children with typical lexical ability regardless of the presence of genetic diagnosis). Methods and Procedures: Forty‐four mother–child dyads in which the children had an SCT and 20 mother–child dyads in which the children were TD participated in the study. Of these 64 dyads, 23 children (21 with SCTs and two TD children) formed the group of children with weak lexical ability (children with a vocabulary size lower than 50 words at 24 months). Maternal utterances were collected during one video‐recorded play session and were then coded considering both the linguistic and functional features of the input. Outcomes and Results: The results showed that the input addressed to 24‐month‐old children with SCTs is as rich and complex as that addressed to TD peers. Moreover, no significant differences in the functions expressed by maternal input were found (all ps > 0.05). Comparing the children with weak lexical ability and the children with typical lexical ability in our sample, having a poor vocabulary at 24 months of age showed a significant influence on the maternal input features: the input addressed to children with weak lexical ability was characterised by a higher presence of attention getters (U = 217.00, p = 0.007) and a lower proportion of questions (U = 236.00, p = 0.017) than that of mothers of typically‐talking children. Conclusions and Implications: At 24 months of age, it seems that the presence of a language delay and not belonging to the clinical group of children with SCTs influences the functional characteristics of the maternal input. It is important to support the parents of children with SCTs during the communication process and later during their child's development, leading them to observe their children's manifested skills rather than looking for possible predicted difficulties. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on the subject: Studies in the literature demonstrated how mothers can generally adapt their input to their child's characteristics. To our knowledge, only two recent studies analysed the maternal input addressed to children with SCT at 8 months of age, highlighting significant differences. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: The maternal input addressed to children with SCT at 24 months of age is not different from that addressed to TD children. At 24 months of age, the mothers adapt their input to the verbal competence shown by their child (weak lexical ability versus typically‐talking), while belonging to the clinical group does not show an influence. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: All the participants of the present study received prenatal diagnosis disclosure by an expert team of professionals, and they were all involved in a longitudinal study aimed at monitoring the children's development and supporting their parents. These results show that giving clear and complete information about possible development paths to parents of children with SCTs during diagnosis disclosure is crucial. Moreover, supporting the parents during the communication process and later during their child's development is fundamental, leading them to observe their children's manifested skills rather than looking for possible predicted difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study examines the effect of a Theory of Mind (ToM) intervention on ToM abilities and social–emotional functioning in adolescents with developmental language disorder (DLD) or who are deaf/hard of hearing (D/HH). It emphasizes the importance of self‐reflection and measurement for personal growth. The research design incorporates both subjective and objective measures to evaluate the intervention's efficacy. Aims: To investigate the impact of the ToM intervention on ToM abilities and social–emotional functioning in adolescents with DLD or who are D/HH. It hypothesizes that participants in the intervention groups will show improved ToM and social–emotional functioning compared with those in the control groups. Methods & Procedures: Adolescents with DLD or who are D/HH were recruited through collaboration with educational institutions. The study utilized a pre‐/post‐test design, assigning participants to either the intervention or the control group. The ToM intervention involved targeted activities to enhance ToM abilities. ToM abilities and social–emotional functioning were assessed using standardized tests and self‐report questionnaires. Statistical analyses compared outcomes between the intervention and no intervention groups. Outcomes & Results: The findings reveal subjective improvements in social–emotional functioning among the D/HH intervention group. However, no significant effects on objective ToM measures were observed. These results highlight the need for further investigation and refinement of interventions in these areas. Future research should focus on improving intervention strategies and exploring additional objective measures to gain a comprehensive understanding of the intervention's impact on ToM and social–emotional functioning in this population. Conclusions & Implications: The ToM intervention shows subjective benefits in improving social–emotional functioning among D/HH adolescents. However, it does not yield significant effects on objective ToM measures. These findings emphasize the ongoing need to refine interventions targeting ToM abilities and social–emotional functioning in this population. Future studies should explore alternative strategies and incorporate additional objective measures to enhance understanding and outcomes. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on this subject: Before this study, it was known that ToM interventions have the potential to enhance ToM abilities. However, the specific effects of such interventions on subjective and objective measures for ToM and social–emotional functioning in adolescents with DLD or who are D/HH remained unclear, necessitating further research. What this paper adds to the existing knowledge: This study adds to the existing knowledge by demonstrating subjective improvements in social–emotional functioning among adolescents who are D/HH and underwent a ToM intervention. However, no significant effects on objective ToM measures were observed. These findings highlight the need for refining interventions and exploring additional measures to better understand the intervention's impact. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: The subjective improvements in social–emotional functioning observed in this study have important clinical implications. They suggest that ToM interventions can positively impact the social well‐being of adolescents who are D/HH. However, the lack of significant effects on objective ToM measures emphasizes the need for further research and intervention refinement to address specific areas of improvement in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neurodiversity is increasingly discussed in relation to autism research and practice. However, there is a lack of scholarship concerning the neurodevelopmental condition of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) and the neurodiversity movement. While this movement may hold opportunities for the DLD community, the application of the concept of neurodiversity to DLD research and practice needs consideration, as DLD and autism have very different levels of public and professional awareness and understanding. Aims: In this article, we discuss what the concept of neurodiversity and the associated neurodiversity movement could mean for DLD research and practice. We aim to critique some assumptions that may arise from the application of neurodiversity principles (or assumed principles) to the field of DLD. Methods: This is a discussion paper, drawing on the personal experiences and reflections of the author team. Main Contributions: We make the case for why DLD should be included in discussions about neurodivergence and outline considerations for doing so, and why some issues and applications may be particular to DLD. We outline points of similarity and contrast with autism in relation to our understanding of neurodiversity. We consider the issues around diagnosis and terminology and urge practitioners to continue to diagnose DLD using currently agreed terminology, so as not to undermine recent awareness efforts. We note that a neurodiversity‐informed perspective challenges us to offer interventions that operate at the level of our environments, not just at the level of an individual. Indeed, neurodiversity offers a platform to argue for better rights and more inclusive spaces in mental health settings, education and work for children and adults with DLD. Conclusions: DLD should be considered from a neurodiversity‐informed perspective, and it is our hope that this will lead to neurodiversity‐affirming practice that will afford young people with DLD better understanding from members of the public and the professionals who work with them. Further work is needed to better support children, young people and adults with DLD to have a voice in the neurodiversity movement. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on the subject: Neurodiversity approaches are increasingly being taken up in research and practice in relation to autism, meaning that our understanding of autism and how autistic people are supported is increasingly drawing on the principles of neurodiversity. However, autism is not the only neurodivergent population. Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) is another neurodevelopmental condition; however, relative to autism, DLD has lower awareness amongst professionals and the public. There has been no scholarship that has examined DLD through the lens of neurodiversity, or considered the application of neurodiversity‐affirming approaches to DLD. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: In this paper, we examine what the neurodiversity movement means for DLD research and practice. In particular, we consider what neurodiversity in the field of autism might teach us about the application of neurodiversity in the field of DLD, and highlight where we believe there are important differences between the two populations. We reflect on what neurodiversity means for intervention, diagnosis, terminology and championing the need for accessibility, especially with regard to mental health support, education and employment. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: Neurodiversity highlights the need to consider interventions at the level of an individual's environment (e.g., how can we make this space more inclusive?) as well as interventions operating at the level of the individual themselves (e.g., interventions focusing on an individual's language skills). We challenge the notion that neurodiversity‐affirming approaches mean not diagnosing DLD or changing DLD's terminology: we argue that this is not in the spirit of the original neurodiversity movement, but also that for a condition with such low public awareness, these actions could do more harm than good for families affected by DLD. We call for more in‐depth scholarship and discussion around the application of neurodiversity approaches to DLD and argue that the neurodiversity movement offers an important opportunity to raise better awareness and understanding of DLD in multiple sectors, including (but not limited to) mental health, education and employment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]