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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: Previous research has demonstrated that many caregivers of care recipients with communication and swallowing impairments suffer from caregiver burden. Existing research sheds light on the presence of burden and various predicting factors, but little information on interventions to reduce caregiver burden. Aims: To determine how speech–language pathologists (SLPs) address caregiver burden in clinical practice. Methods: A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines and 1898 unique articles were assessed for eligibility from nine electronic databases. Only 11 studies carried out a caregiver burden intervention involving an SLP. Details of the interventions were extracted per the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System (RTSS) guidelines. Main Contribution: Results of the review revealed that SLP‐led caregiver burden interventions can be effective in reducing burden. Multiple aspects of the intervention approaches, such as multidisciplinary care and targeting emotional burden, are discussed. Demographic factors, such as gender and socio‐economic status (SES), are also taken into consideration. Conclusions & Implications: This review suggests that SLPs can be effective at reducing caregiver burden through interventions involving caregivers across the lifespan and continuum of care. What This Paper Adds: What is already known on this subject: Previous research has demonstrated that many caregivers of care recipients with communication and swallowing impairments suffer from caregiver burden. These caregivers range from parents of young children to spouses of individuals with dementia. However, it is unclear if and how SLPs address caregiver burden in clinical practice. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: Using the RTSS, details of various caregiver burden interventions involving SLPs were identified. This review revealed that SLP‐led caregiver burden interventions can be effective in reducing emotional and financial burden, as well as play a part in improving care–recipient outcomes. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: This systematic review demonstrates that efforts to reduce caregiver burden within SLP practice may yield benefits for both caregivers and care recipients. It provides clinicians with a preliminary resource to help consider caregiver burden interventions that best suit the needs of the caregivers and their care recipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent evidence suggests that speech substantially changes in ageing. As a complex neurophysiological process, it can accurately reflect changes in the motor and cognitive systems underpinning human speech. Since healthy ageing is not always easily discriminable from early stages of dementia based on cognitive and behavioural hallmarks, speech is explored as a preclinical biomarker of pathological itineraries in old age. A greater and more specific impairment of neuromuscular activation, as well as a specific cognitive and linguistic impairment in dementia, unchain discriminating changes in speech. Yet, there is no consensus on such discriminatory speech parameters, neither on how they should be elicited and assessed. Aims: To provide a state‐of‐the‐art on speech parameters that allow for early discrimination between healthy and pathological ageing; the aetiology of these parameters; the effect of the type of experimental stimuli on speech elicitation and the predictive power of different speech parameters; and the most promising methods for speech analysis and their clinical implications. Methods & Procedures: A scoping review methodology is used in accordance with the PRISMA model. Following a systematic search of PubMed, PsycINFO and CINAHL, 24 studies are included and analysed in the review. Main Contribution: The results of this review yield three key questions for the clinical assessment of speech in ageing. First, acoustic and temporal parameters are more sensitive to changes in pathological ageing and, of these two, temporal variables are more affected by cognitive impairment. Second, different types of stimuli can trigger speech parameters with different degree of accuracy for the discrimination of clinical groups. Tasks with higher cognitive load are more precise in eliciting higher levels of accuracy. Finally, automatic speech analysis for the discrimination of healthy and pathological ageing should be improved for both research and clinical practice. Conclusions & Implications: Speech analysis is a promising non‐invasive tool for the preclinical screening of healthy and pathological ageing. The main current challenges of speech analysis in ageing are the automatization of its clinical assessment and the consideration of the speaker's cognitive background during evaluation. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on the subject: Societal aging goes hand in hand with the rising incidence of ageing‐related neurodegenerations, mainly Alzheimer's disease (AD). This is particularly noteworthy in countries with longer life expectancies. Healthy ageing and early stages of AD share a set of cognitive and behavioural characteristics. Since there is no cure for dementias, developing methods for accurate discrimination of healthy ageing and early AD is currently a priority. Speech has been described as one of the most significantly impaired features in AD. Neuropathological alterations in motor and cognitive systems would underlie specific speech impairment in dementia. Since speech can be evaluated quickly, non‐invasively and inexpensively, its value for the clinical assessment of ageing itineraries may be particularly high. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: Theoretical and experimental advances in the assessment of speech as a marker of AD have developed rapidly over the last decade. Yet, they are not always known to clinicians. Furthermore, there is a need to provide an updated state‐of‐the‐art on which speech features are discriminatory to AD, how they can be assessed, what kind of results they can yield, and how such results should be interpreted. This article provides an updated overview of speech profiling, methods of speech measurement and analysis, and the clinical power of speech assessment for early discrimination of AD as the most common cause of dementia. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: This article provides an overview of the predictive potential of different speech parameters in relation to AD cognitive impairment. In addition, it discusses the effect that the cognitive state, the type of elicitation task and the type of assessment method may have on the results of the speech‐based analysis in ageing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inter‐professional collaboration (IPC) has been recommended for many years as a means by which the needs of children with developmental language disorders (DLD) can be met at school. However, effective IPC remains difficult to achieve and our knowledge of how to support it is limited. A shared understanding between those involved has been identified as critical to IPC. Aims: To examine the literature, as one source of data, for evidence of a shared understanding between the fields of speech and language therapy (SLT) and education about children with DLD and how such needs can best be met at school. Methods & Procedures: An integrative review of the literature was undertaken. A systematic search of the published, peer‐reviewed literature (between 2006 and 2016) was conducted for empirical and theoretical papers and a manual search was undertaken to obtain a representative sample of policy/professional guidelines. A total of 81 papers across SLT and education were included in the review. The papers were scrutinized using a qualitative content analysis. Main Contribution: Although some commonality between perspectives in the literature was identified, differences between the fields dominated. These differences related to how DLD is conceptualized; how children's needs are assessed; which outcomes are prioritized and how best these outcomes can be achieved. We also found differences about what constitutes useful knowledge to guide practice. We suggest that the nature of the differences we identified in the literature may have negative implications for practitioners wishing to collaborate to meet the needs of children with DLD in school. The perspectives of practising SLTs and teachers need to be sought to determine whether the findings from the literature reflect dilemmas in practice. Conclusions: Effective IPC is essential to meet the needs of children with DLD in school; yet, it remains difficult to achieve. Our review of the literature across SLT and education indicates evidence of a lack of shared understanding about DLD. If these differences are also evident in practice, then a conceptual model to support IPC may be warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Variations in communicative participation of children with developmental language disorder (DLD) cannot be wholly explained by their language difficulties alone and may be influenced by contextual factors. Contextual factors may support or hinder communicative participation in children, which makes their identification clinically relevant. Aims: To investigate which contextual (environmental and personal) factors in early childhood are protective, risk or neutral factors for communicative participation among school‐aged children with DLD, and to identify possible gaps in knowledge about this subject. Methods & Procedures: A scoping review was conducted based on a systematic search of studies published from January 2007 to March 2022 in Pubmed, Embase (without MEDLINE), CINAHL and PsycINFO. In total, 8802 studies were reviewed using predefined eligibility criteria, of which 32 studies were included for data extraction and critically appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (2021) tools. Main Contribution: The methodological quality of included studies was adequate to strong. Personal protective factors identified are being a preschool girl, reaching school age and being prosocial, while personal risk factors are becoming a teenager or adolescent, having low socio‐cognitive skills and experiencing comorbid mobility impairment or behavioural problems. Gender after the preschool years and non‐verbal abilities were not found to be of influence, and the role of socio‐emotional skills is inconclusive. Receiving therapy is an environmental protective factor, while the association between socio‐economical family characteristics with communicative participation is inconclusive. Conclusions & Implications: Limited research has been conducted on which risk and protective factors present in early childhood are associated with later communicative participation of children with DLD. The influence of co‐occurring health conditions, social background variables, individual psychological assets, interpersonal relationships and attitudes of other people represent knowledge gaps. In addition, knowledge about the comparative effectiveness of different types of interventions and service delivery models, and the impact of administrative control, organizational mechanisms and standards established by governments on children's communicative participation is lacking. More longitudinal research is needed focusing on the identification of relevant personal and environmental factors and the interactions between them in relation to communicative participation outcomes. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on this subject: Children with DLD experience varying degrees of communicative participation restrictions. Insight into contextual factors that influence communicative participation can help to identify children at risk and inform family and child‐centred therapy. Systematic research on contextual factors that facilitate or hinder communicative participation in children with DLD is currently lacking. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: Knowledge of protective factors can guide the development of interventions for children and young people with DLD that boost resilience and facilitate communicative participation, while insight into the risk factors can help professionals identify the most vulnerable children and develop interventions that can lift or neutralize barriers present in the life of these children. Specific groups potentially at risk are young boys, children with co‐morbid mobility impairment, children with conduct problems, and children reaching adolescence. In contrast, potentially protective factors are reaching school age and being prosocial. In addition, the development of socio‐cognitive skills may be beneficial for the communicative participation of children with DLD. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: To support communicative participation, it is important that professionals who work with children with DLD understand which groups are at risk for communicative participation restrictions, and which factors can foster resilience. In the absence of evidence‐based instruments for the systematic assessment of personal and environmental factors, consulting parents and children on the contextual factors that they perceive as important remains critical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Artificial nutrition and hydration (AN&H) may be provided to individuals in the home environment, and family caregivers are often involved in the management of this intervention. This experience can have multiple consequences for families. Aims: The aim of this meta‐ethnography is to explore and synthesize the personal experiences of family caregivers providing care to a person receiving home AN&H. Methods & Procedures: A comprehensive search of the literature was conducted without any time limitations applied. Seven stages of meta‐ethnography were followed. Public and patient involvement was incorporated into the development of the line of argument synthesis in this review. This review is reported following the eMERGe guidelines and it was registered in PROSPERO. Main Contribution: A total of 22 studies were included representing the experiences of 336 family caregivers. Two main themes emerged: (1) sink or swim, being thrown in at the deep end; and (2) professional support as a bedrock. The first theme represents the experiences from the very start of home AN&H when the family caregivers may be overwhelmed with the level of skills they have to acquire. With time, family caregivers perceived the benefits, but also the challenges, associated with managing home AN&H. If a person receiving home AN&H was able to continue with some oral intake, it had a positive impact on family caregivers' experiences. The second theme represents the influence of professional support on the lived experience of family caregivers managing home AN&H. This support should be individualized, comprehensive, and co‐created with the family caregiver and the person receiving home AN&H. Conclusions & Implications: This review concluded that caring for a person receiving home AN&H can be very challenging for family caregivers. Family caregivers require personalized support from a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals to acquire skills, competence and confidence in this new role. Speech and language therapists are important members of this multidisciplinary team because they can facilitate a continuation of oral intake as appropriate. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on the subject: AN&H has an impact not only on the person receiving it but also on the wider family and family caregivers. Healthcare professionals have a role in supporting people living with AN&H. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: This review presents a rigorous qualitative evidence synthesis that adheres fully to the eMERGe guidance for reporting of meta‐ethnography. Within this meta‐ethnography a current caregiver was consulted during the creation of the line of argument synthesis to provide a unique perspective to the review process. This review synthesized the current body of evidence that explores the lived experience of home AN&H (any type) for family caregivers, identifies where professional support is required and highlights current gaps. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: Family caregivers require personalized support from a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals to adjust to living with home AN&H. This support assists people living with home AN&H in perceiving benefits and developing more positive experiences. Speech and language therapists are important members of the multidisciplinary team supporting individuals with home AN&H and their family caregivers as they can facilitate a continuation of oral intake as appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many healthcare and educational services providers have undergone a rapid transition from a face‐to‐face to a tele‐practice mode of service delivery in the context of the COVID‐19 outbreak. This, in turn, has led to a need to understand better the evidence underpinning such moves. Based on a review of existing reviews, this paper critically analyses the relevant literature related to intervention with children with communication disabilities drawing on the COM‐B model. Methods & Procedures: Ten reviews were identified following a systematic searching of electronic databases. These were then coded according to both PRISMA criteria and the components of the COM‐B model. Based on these findings, a critical analysis of the state of the tele‐practice intervention literature is discussed and fed into evidence‐based advice for practitioners transitioning to this mode of service delivery. Outcomes & Results: The COM‐B mapping suggests that the existing literature has provided primary evidence for physical opportunity and reflective motivation (e.g., participants have the time to take part and the necessary materials, as well as a desire to do it). It has also focused on elements of social opportunity (e.g., having support and prompts from others to take part). However, there are significant gaps in the description and analysis of both physical and psychological capability components. Conclusions & Implications: Whilst the evidence for tele‐practice interventions for children and young people with communication disabilities is growing, it is also lacking a comprehensive framework to support its implementation. In times of rapid transitions, researchers and practitioners alike need to understand how to evaluate comprehensively the impact of changing the mode of intervention delivery. The COM‐B model provides a powerful tool to reflect on the key elements for the successful design and implementation of tele‐practice interventions. What this paper addsWhat is already known on this subjectTele‐practice has been a feature of service delivery for speech and language therapists working with children and young people with speech and language disorders for many years, as it has in other areas of practice. This came into sharp focus during 2020 during the 'lock‐down' following the start of the COVID‐19 pandemic when most practice went online.What this paper adds to existing knowledgeThis study set out to provide a framework for understanding service delivery, drawing on the COM‐B behaviour change model. This is applied using a rapid review methodology to 10 systematic and narrative reviews of the existing literature published since 2005. The findings suggest that while most studies demonstrated efficacy, there was a lack of information regarding specific aspects of the model which would affect their implementation.What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?It is anticipated that the paper has the potential to have a direct bearing on how tele‐practice services for children and young people with speech and language disorders will be delivered in the future. The paper concludes with a series of recommendations for practice and research in terms of the application of the COM‐B model to tele‐practice in speech and language therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Contemporary clinical and empirical perspectives indicate that management of the psychosocial features of stuttering is fundamental for effective treatment. Interventions that improve psychosocial outcomes for school‐age children who stutter are, therefore, needed. Aims: This systematic review identifies what psychosocial outcomes have been explored in existing school‐age clinical research, the measures used and the potential treatment effects. This will provide guidance for developing interventions that reflect contemporary perspectives of stuttering management. Methods & Procedures: A total of 14 databases and three conference proceedings were searched for clinical reports of psychosocial outcomes of children aged 6–12 years. The review did not include pharmacological interventions. Psychosocial measures and outcomes were analysed in each study based on data recorded pre‐treatment, immediately post‐treatment and for any follow‐up assessments. Main Contributions: Of the 4051 studies identified from the databases, a total of 22 studies met criteria for inclusion in the review. From these 22 studies, the review identified four prominent psychosocial domains that have been explored in school‐age clinical research to date: Impact of stuttering, communication attitude, anxiety and speech satisfaction. These domains vary in measurement and effect sizes. Two behavioural treatments were associated with anxiety reduction, even though they did not contain anxiolytic procedures. No evidence of potential treatment effects emerged for communication attitudes. Quality of life—an important psychosocial domain pertinent to health economics—did not feature in school‐age clinical reports. Conclusions & Implications: The psychosocial features of stuttering need to be managed during the school years. Three psychosocial domains—impact of stuttering, anxiety and speech satisfaction—show evidence of potential treatment effects. This review provides direction for future clinical research so that speech–language pathologists can effectively and holistically manage school‐age children who stutter. What this paper adds: What is already known on the subject: Elevated levels of anxiety are apparent for children and adolescents who stutter. Therefore, the need to assess and manage psychosocial features of stuttering are expertly regarded as clinical priorities. Clinical trials of such psychosocial features of stuttering for children aged 6−12 years are not well advanced and, therefore, do not reflect current best practice management of this disorder. What this study adds to existing knowledge: This systematic review identifies four different psychosocial domains measured and reported in the literature for school‐age stuttering management. For three psychosocial domains, some evidence of potential treatment effects emerged with participant numbers greater than 10: Impact of stuttering, anxiety and speech satisfaction. Though treatment effect sizes varied, there is a suggestion that cognitive behaviour therapy can improve anxiety of school‐age children who stutter. There is also suggestion that two other behavioural treatments can improve anxiety of school‐age children who stutter. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: Given the essential need for school‐age children who stutter to receive management of any speech‐related anxiety they may experience, it would be productive to discover in future clinical research what interventions could contribute to that goal—behavioural or psychosocial, or both. This review reveals that cognitive behaviour therapy, and other behavioural treatments, are associated with anxiety reductions. Such approaches should be considered for future clinical trial research to help advance the evidence base for managing school‐age stuttering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acquired brain injury (ABI), especially to the right hemisphere, can result in difficulty using or understanding prosodic contours in speech. Prosody is used to convey emotional connotation or linguistic intent and includes pitch, loudness, rate, and voice quality. A disorder in the comprehension or production of prosody is known as aprosodia; despite the communication disability caused by prosodic disorders, the assessment and treatment of aprosodia following ABI has received scant attention. Aims: The aim of this scoping review is to gather and synthesise useful knowledge on aprosodia and provide therapists with an exhaustive document in order to guide clinical decision‐making encouraging active identification and treatment of this disorder. Methods & Procedures: This scoping review, conducted in accordance with PRISMA‐ScR guidelines, investigated the existing literature concerning the assessment and treatments of linguistic and affective aprosodia in adult patients after ABI. A systematic search in four electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, ScienceDirect) was conducted for articles written in English, French, or Italian published between 1970 and 2020. After all evaluative criteria were applied, 15 articles were included for final review. Outcomes & Results: Results show the presence of six assessment tools for affective aprosodia and five evaluation tools targeting affective and linguistic prosody. Assessment of aprosodia is generally accomplished through acoustic and perceptual approaches. Current treatments for prosodic disorders focus on expressive aprosodia and have applied mostly two different approaches: imitative and cognitive–linguistic methods. Conclusion & Implications: Findings suggest that aprosodia can be assessed by therapists through various techniques and may be amenable to behavioural treatments. Nevertheless, although there are several assessment tools available, no one currently offers a comprehensive assessment that incorporates an ecological dimension. It therefore seems necessary to continue research in this direction. The rehabilitation of receptive prosody abilities also remains to be explored. What this paper adds: What is already known on the subject: Prosody has a fundamental role in communication and conveys speakers' intentions and emotions. Therefore, a deficit of prosody (aprosodia) after acquired brain injury can reduce social participation and engagement. Assessment tools and rehabilitation treatments are necessary in order to improve this disorder and patients' quality of life. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: The evaluation tools currently available focuses mostly on affective aprosodia, whereas the linguistic prosody is less assessed. There exist two treatments for expressive aprosodia: motoric–imitative and cognitive–linguistic treatments; however, their efficacy is tested on small groups of patients. No treatments targeting receptive aprosodia were found. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: We need more sensitive and reliable tools and systematic evaluations of all the components of prosody (affective and linguistic, receptive and expressive prosody). We need researches who analyse bigger samples of patients after right hemisphere brain injury and we identified the need of more well‐designed studies and better understanding of the pathophysiology of aprosodia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Unaided communication behaviours may provide communication support for persons with severe cerebrovascular accidents (CVA), as these individuals often experience severe communication difficulties, regardless of the aetiology. Though often subtle, these behaviours are present during all stages of recovery, and therefore communication partners need to know not only which unaided strategies are used as communication attempts, but also what their function is (i.e., what the person aims to achieve with the communication). Aim: To identify the unaided communication behaviours that adults with severe CVA and little or no functional speech use to communicate, and to determine the communication functions addressed by these behaviours. Methods & Procedures: The study used a scoping review methodology and included articles on communication partners of persons with CVA published between 1986 and 2020. Initially the searches yielded 732 studies from which 211 duplicates were identified. The remaining studies (n = 531) were then screened on title, abstract and full‐text level resulting in a final inclusion of 18 studies. Of the 18 studies, five were qualitative and 13 consisted of quantitative methodologies. Main contribution: The subtle communication behaviours used by persons with CVA (and resultant severe communication difficulties) are often misinterpreted or overlooked by their partners. If partners are trained to recognise such subtle or unaided communication behaviours, they can provide adequate support to access a range of communication functions. The unaided communication behaviours, which include 13 primary behaviours ranging from non‐linguistic to linguistic, were utilised to convey 31 communication functions classified into four main communication categories. Conclusions & Implications: Although unaided communication behaviours often appear as limiting, they can be utilised to communicate various communication functions. The findings of this review support the training of partners to identify these behaviours and improve person‐partner communication. What is known?: Unaided communication has been widely researched. However, a summary is needed of the various unaided communication behaviours and of the different communication functions addressed by these behaviours. What the paper adds...: This paper emphasises that unaided communication behaviours range from non‐linguistic to linguistic, and they can support unintentional, pre‐intentional and intentional communication functions. Clinical implications: Even though aided communication is preferred, unaided communication behaviours are generally used in contexts with limited resources, as well as among culturally and linguistically diverse populations. This study advocates the identification of unaided communication behaviours by partners as well as the support and provision of access to communication strategies for persons with severe CVA. Future research should include more untrained communication partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Person‐centred care (PCC) has shown positive effects in various health‐care settings and therefore is desirable in clinical work. However, as PCC is still being developed, the literature reflects a heterogeneous use of both terminology and conceptualisation. This lack of consistency hinders the implementation or adaptation of PCC in general and in select fields of practice such as speech‐language therapy (SLT). Aims: To describe how the concept of PCC manifests in current speech and language therapy research and practice for adult patients. Methods & Procedures: Searches for published literature were conducted in five databases (PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Psych INFO, and Linguistics and Language Behaviour Abstracts) using search terms related to PCC and SLT. Records were included if they involved an adult population, were written in English, and focused on PCC and SLT irrespective of year of publication. Main Contribution: A total of 134 records published 1996–2020 were included in this review. Many of these records were discussion papers that described how speech‐language therapists (SLTs) can or should work in a person‐centred way. The search did not find any records that explore the implementation, effects, or patients' views of person‐centred SLT. This literature review revealed that person‐centred SLT practice mainly relates to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health framework, and the Life Participation Approach to Aphasia. Studies incorporating exploration of proposed clinical routines of PCC demonstrate specific context‐dependant aspects including barriers to eliciting a patient narrative, involving patient and family members, and documenting SLT. Conclusions & Implications: This study provides information that can be used to implement person‐centred care in SLT education, clinical practice, and research by providing an inventory of the current knowledge and the existing gaps. What is already known on the subject: PCC has shown positive effects and is currently being implemented in various health‐care settings worldwide. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: This study provides an account of the current state in research and practice on how PCC for adults is described, discussed, and evaluated. While related concepts such as family‐centred care have mainly been explored within paediatrics, little is known about how PCC manifests in SLT for adults. Our results show that PCC is presently being discussed and valued in SLT although obstacles exist, and few studies explore whether current practice is person centred and the potential effects of such practice. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: This study provides clinicians, researchers, and policymakers' guidance on what aspects to consider when working to implement person‐centred SLT for adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Epidemiological studies have provided invaluable insight into the origin and impact of low language skills in childhood and adolescence. However, changing terminology and diagnostic guidelines have contributed to variable estimations of the prevalence of developmental language difficulties. The aim of this review was to profile the extent and variability of low language prevalence estimates through a systematic review of epidemiological literature. Methods: A systematic review of the empirical research (August 2022) was undertaken to identify studies that aimed to estimate the prevalence of low language skills in children (<18 years). A total of 19 studies published between 1980–2022 met inclusion criteria for review. Results: Studies reported prevalence estimates of low language skills in children between 1 and 16 years. Estimated rates varied from 0.4% to 25.2%. More stable estimations were observed in studies of children aged 5 years and older and those that applied updated diagnostic criteria to performance on standardised assessments of receptive and expressive language. Conclusions and Implications: The estimated prevalence of low language skills in childhood varies considerably in the literature. Application of updated diagnostic criteria, including the assessment of functional impact, is critical to inform advocacy efforts and govern social, health and educational policies. What this paper adds: What is already known on the subject: Epidemiological research has informed our understanding of the origin and impact of low language capacity in childhood.Childhood language disorder is met with a rich history of evolving terminology and diagnostic guidelines to identify children with low language skills.Inconsistent definitions of and methods to identify low language in children have resulted in variable prevalence estimates in population‐based studies.Variability in prevalence estimates impacts advocacy efforts to inform social, health and educational policy for child language disorder. What this study adds: A total of 19 studies published at the time of this review aimed to provide estimates of the proportion of children who experience low language skills.Prevalence estimates varied between 0.4% and 25.2%, with more stable estimates reported in studies of older school‐age children and those which utilised standardised assessments of both expressive and receptive language.Few studies utilised assessments of functional impact of language difficulties, which is misaligned with updated diagnostic criteria for child language disorder. What are the clinical implications of this work?: This review reports substantial variability in estimates of the proportion of children and adolescents who live with low language skills. This variability underscores the importance of applying updated diagnostic criteria to identify the prevalence low language in childhood.Efforts to estimate the prevalence of low language must include measures of functional impact of low language skills. This aligns with clinical recommendations, which call for routine assessment of functional outcomes. To this end, we require a unified understanding of the term 'functional impact' in the context of low language, including the development and evaluation of measures that assess impact across emotional, social and academic domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of language disorder in youth offenders far exceeds rates reported in community samples. Youth involved in the justice system are also at increased risk of a range of psychiatric disorders, including internalizing mental health problems (i.e., anxiety, depression). However, the frequency with which these co‐occur in this population is not known. Understanding the co‐occurrence of language disorder with anxiety and depression in youth offenders may contribute to more coordinated and targeted support for these vulnerable youth. Aims: To explore the co‐occurrence of language disorder and anxiety and depression in youth offenders. Methods & Procedures: A systematic literature search of six databases (CINAHL, ERIC, Medline, PyscINFO, PubMED, Scopus) was conducted (September 2021) using key search terms relevant to the systematic review question. Study inclusion criteria were: (1) original research published in English; (2) youth up to 21 years of age involved in the justice system; and (3) reported outcomes on language and anxiety and/or depression. All included studies were appraised using the Joanna Briggs Critical Appraisal tool checklist relevant to study design. Due to the heterogeneity of included studies, data synthesis was narrative. Main Contribution: Eight studies met the eligibility criteria. A range of measures was used to assess language abilities across samples. Only two studies directly addressed the relationship between language disorder and internalizing mental health problems; both found no significant correlation. Conclusions & Implications: Although the results did not support a significant relationship between language disorder and internalizing mental health problems in youth offenders, the two appear to occur comorbidly as evidenced by heightened rates of both in the included samples. This review highlights the need for more robust studies aimed to better understand this relationship. Stronger evidence may contribute to increased collaborative speech pathology and psychology services which might increase youth offenders' accessibility and engagement in intervention programmes (e.g., cognitive–behaviour therapy; interpersonal skills training; individual counselling). WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on this subject: The markedly high rates of language disorder in youth involved in the justice system have been widely reported. It is also known that externalizing mental health problems often bring youth in contact with the justice system. Though there is some information about the prevalence of internalizing mental health problems in this population, the co‐occurrence of language disorder and internalizing mental health problems has not been examined as widely. What this study adds to existing knowledge: This study aimed to identify the frequency of co‐occurrence of language disorder and anxiety and/or depression in youth offenders. Although the results did not support a significant relationship between language disorder and internalizing mental health problems in this population, results of the review provide evidence of heightened rates of both. This study also provides a summary of the various measures used to assess language and internalizing mental health in youth offenders across the eight studies included in this review. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: It is possible that the tests and sub‐tests used to identify language disorders and internalizing mental health problems were not sensitive enough to identify the full extent of youth offenders' needs. Identifying the presence of language disorders and internalizing mental health problems and recognizing the impact these may have on the communication and behaviours of an individual can better inform staff and therapists as they engage and interact with youth in the justice system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chewing dysfunction can have adverse effects on growth, development and quality of life. There is a lack of evidence‐based consensus guidelines for sensorimotor intervention. To address this, we need to understand the current state of the science in clinical sensorimotor interventions for paediatric chewing dysfunction and systematically plan a research agenda and priorities for the field. Aims: The purpose of this scoping review was to examine the extent, range and nature of evidence for oral sensorimotor interventions for paediatric chewing dysfunction. Methods & Procedures: This scoping review entailed five phases that included: identification of the research question; identification of relevant studies; study selection; data charting; and collation, summarization and report of the results. Treatment studies that were peer‐reviewed and written in English were included. All studies involved a paediatric population and included an oral sensorimotor and/or chewing intervention. Information regarding study design, population, intervention, comparator, outcome measures and findings were extracted. Main Contribution: Of the 21 studies included in this scoping review, 53% were specific to children with cerebral palsy. All interventions were multi‐component in nature and the treatment studies included a range of study designs, but few were controlled trials with comparators. A wide variety of outcomes measures were used within and across studies to determine treatment effectiveness. Conclusions & Implications: The findings suggest that in a small number of studies, sensorimotor interventions provide preliminary evidence for effectiveness in specific populations. These and other treatment protocols must be trialled in additional clinical populations and settings to improve the evidence base for sensorimotor treatment of paediatric chewing dysfunction. This review also serves to help prioritize research agendas and further motivates the need for consensus‐based clinical guidelines for paediatric chewing treatment. What this paper adds: What is already known on the subject: Paediatric feeding disorders are highly prevalent and children often have chewing dysfunction that results in significant negative consequences. We lack evidence‐based sensorimotor treatment approaches for chewing dysfunction, which directly impacts the care clinicians can provide children. What this study adds to existing knowledge: This scoping review is the first step in examining the literature to understand the current state of the science for oral sensorimotor interventions for paediatric chewing dysfunction. Few randomized controlled studies were identified and a majority included children with cerebral palsy. Most of the interventions were multi‐component and included a variety of treatment approaches. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: The results of this scoping review can be used as an initial reference for clinicians selecting treatment approaches for chewing dysfunction. It also serves to help prioritize research agendas and further motivates the need for consensus‐based clinical guidelines for paediatric chewing treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Speech pathologists who work with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) adults with acquired communication disorders (ACDs), in predominately English‐speaking countries, are legally and ethically bound to work with professional interpreters to overcome language barriers and provide equitable services. As levels of migration and ageing populations continue to rise globally, there will be an increasing need for speech pathologists to work with professional interpreters to manage the growing numbers of CALD adults with ACDs. Speech pathologists and professional interpreters face unique challenges when working together due to the need to focus on the intricacies of communication. Aims: This systematic review explores how speech pathologists and professional interpreters work together to manage CALD adults with ACDs by investigating the existing research context and the challenges and strategies reportedly used by these professions. Methods & Procedures: A systematic quantitative literature review methodology was used to guide the review process, along with relevant items from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) checklist. Five online scholarly databases (CINAHL, PubMED, Scopus, ScienceDirect and Web of Science) were searched using key search terms. Study inclusion criteria were: (1) original research reported in English; (2) informed our understanding of speech pathologists and professional interpreters working together; (3) focused on the management of ACDs; and (4) focused on working with CALD adults. Outcomes & Results: Ten studies that met inclusion criteria were identified and included in the review. Half of the studies were conducted in Australia. Study designs were either surveys or single‐case designs (e.g., case reports or qualitative case studies). Most participants were monolingual, female speech pathologists. Interpreter participants were mainly involved in assessment tasks using face‐to‐face service delivery. Common challenges reported by participants were speech pathologists being unsure of the accuracies of interpretations by interpreters, and unclear role expectations from both professions. Pre‐session briefings and training of both professions were the primary strategies used and recommended. Conclusions & Implications: This review identified emerging research relating to speech pathologist and professional interpreter interactions, which were limited predominantly to the perspectives of speech pathologists. Several challenges were reported. While strategies to facilitate interprofessional practice were proposed, the efficacy and utility of the strategies has not been investigated to date. Further in‐depth studies are needed to examine how the professions work together, and to explore feasibility and effectiveness of implementing proposed strategies to optimize service delivery to CALD adults with ACDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Communication and swallowing disorders are highly prevalent in people with Parkinson's disease (PD). Maintenance of functional communication and swallowing over time is challenging for the person with PD and their families and may lead to social isolation and reduced quality of life if not addressed. Speech and language therapists (SLTs) face the conundrum of providing sustainable and flexible services to meet the changing needs of people with PD. Motor, cognitive and psychological issues associated with PD, medication regimens and dependency on others often impede attendance at a centre‐based service. The access difficulties experienced by people with PD require a disruptive service approach to meet their needs. Technology‐enabled management using information and telecommunications technologies to provide services at a distance has the potential to improve access, and enhance the quality of SLT services to people with PD. Aims: To report the status and scope of the evidence for the use of technology in the management of the communication and swallowing disorders associated with PD. Methods & Procedures: Studies were retrieved from four major databases (PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE and Medline via Web of Science). Data relating to the types of studies, level of evidence, context, nature of the management undertaken, participant perspectives and the types of technologies involved were extracted for the review. Main Contribution: A total of 17 studies were included in the review, 15 of which related to the management of communication and swallowing disorders in PD with two studies devoted to participant perspectives. The majority of the studies reported on the treatment of the speech disorder in PD using Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT LOUD®). Synchronous and asynchronous technologies were used in the studies with a predominance of the former. There was a paucity of research in the management of cognitive‐communication and swallowing disorders. Conclusions & Implications: Research evidence supporting technology‐enabled management of the communication and swallowing disorders in PD is limited and predominantly low in quality. The treatment of the speech disorder online is the most developed aspect of the technology‐enabled management pathway. Future research needs to address technology‐enabled management of cognitive‐communication and swallowing disorders and the use of a more diverse range of technologies and management approaches to optimize SLT service delivery to people with PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Communication partner training (CPT) programmes for health and care staff working with people with the neurologically based communication disorders associated with stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and dementia are efficacious in improving communication. However, current programmes are lengthy and disorder specific, and therefore may not be suitable as staff training tools in environments with people with multiple communication disorders, and services with a variety of neurological populations. Aims: To identify common and distinct components of CPT programmes for stroke, TBI and dementia in order to determine whether there are common delivery methods and content that can be consolidated to improve implementation of CPT in health and care services. Methods & Procedures: A qualitative enquiry was used. Four CPT programmes targeting three disorders were identified from systematic reviews and literature searches. Programme data were recorded onto data sheets from manuals, study articles and supplementary materials, and were categorized using the Intervention Taxonomy (ITAX). Content analysis and elements of constant comparative analysis were employed to analyse the CPT programmes. Outcomes & Results: Delivery characteristics were similar across all four programmes. All were delivered face to face in either group or individual contexts. However, duration varied from 1 to 35 h. Six of the 12 categories of information provided were common across all programmes, including 'strategy' 'background to disorder', 'information about communication', 'information about program', 'negative behaviours to avoid' and 'purpose of program'. Programmes differed in the types of skill‐building techniques used, with the most common being videos (3/4 programmes), discussions (2/4 programmes) and trainer demonstrations (2/4 programmes). While strategies provided to trained partners targeted similar domains of communication, only 3/96 individual strategies were common to all programmes. Conclusions & Implications: There are both common and distinct components in content and delivery methods across CPT programmes. Further research is needed to evaluate the distinct components of the programmes, to determine which individual strategies are efficacious, and which approach to skill‐building techniques is most effective. The present study has contributed a comprehensive list of programme components, which can form a basis for describing and refining CPT programmes in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Beyond the severity of voice, speech and language impairments, one potential predictor of communication success across adult populations with communication disorders may be perceived social support: the expectation that others will provide support if needed. Despite the preponderance of intervention approaches that assume a positive relationship between perceived social support and patient‐reported communication success, the evidence base for these relationships is limited. Aims: The aim of this systematic review is to explore relationships between measures of perceived social support and patient‐reported communication outcomes in adult populations with communication disorders. Methods & Procedures: The PRISMA guidelines were followed in the conduct and reporting of this review. Electronic databases including PubMed, PsychINFO and CINAHL were systematically searched up to 19 May 2017. Additional data were obtained for two studies. All the included studies were appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) tools. Given the heterogeneous nature of the studies, data synthesis was narrative for the quantitative studies. A meta‐ethnographic approach was used to synthesize qualitative data. Outcomes & Results: Eight quantitative and four qualitative studies met eligibility criteria. All quantitative studies met eight of eight quality criteria. For the qualitative studies, one study met nine of nine quality criteria; the remaining three studies met three, seven and eight quality criteria. Of the eight included quantitative studies, six independent data sets were used. Results revealed no significant relationships between perceived social support and communication outcomes in three studies (two aphasia with one data set, one Parkinson's disease), while perceived social support was a weak, but significant predictor in two studies (one multiple sclerosis, one head and neck cancer). Three additional studies (two aphasia with one data set; one Parkinson's disease) found that relationships were initially weak, but strengthened over time to become moderate. Results from qualitative studies (one head and neck cancer, two aphasia, one multiple sclerosis) revealed that perceived social support acted as a facilitator, and absent or misguided support acted as a barrier to communication outcomes. Skilful, responsive family members were able to facilitate better quality of communicative interactions, whereas lack of social support, or negative attitudes and behaviours of other people, were barriers. Conclusions & Implications: While perceived social support may affect communication outcomes in adults with communication disorders, current measures may not adequately capture these constructs. Results have implications for future research and interventions for speech and language therapists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Dysphagia has been an increasing area of practice for speech and language therapists (SLTs) for over 20 years, and throughout that period there has been debate about how practical skills in dysphagia can best be developed. The implementation of the new Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) framework was considered from a regional perspective seeking to establish consensus across different speech and language therapy settings. Aim To explore practical solutions to the development of dysphagia competency in new graduates whilst acknowledging the wide variation in staffing and clinical dysphagia experience across the geographical and clinical landscape in the North West of England. Methods & Procedures A four-phase study involved a literature search; interviews with experts in the field of dysphagia; a survey to identify current practice; and a two-round Delphi process. Outcomes & Results Five themes emerged for dysphagia competency development: development of practical skills; supervision; clinical excellence networks; workforce planning; and postgraduate formal training. Challenges, and solutions to these, were identified through the phases of the study. A model for dysphagia competency development relevant to the North West context was achieved by consensus. Conclusions & Implications There are many practical ways of developing dysphagia competency. The themes and model generated provide constructive support to services in adopting the most appropriate methods for their own settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background A core social-communication deficit in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is limited joint attention behaviours-important in the diagnosis of ASD and shown to be a powerful predictor of later language ability. Various interventions have been used to train joint attention skills in children with ASD. However, it is unclear which participant, intervention and interventionist factors yield more positive results. Aims The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to provide a quantitative assessment of the effectiveness of joint attention interventions aimed at improving joint attention abilities in children with ASD. Methods & Procedures The researchers searched six databases for studies meeting the inclusion criteria at two levels: title/abstract and full-text stages. Two independent coders completed data extraction using a coding manual and form developed specifically for this research study. Meta-analysis procedures were used to determine the overall effects of several comparisons including treatment type, treatment administrator, intervention characteristics and follow-up. Main Contribution Fifteen randomized experimental studies met inclusion criteria. All comparisons resulted in statistically significant effects, though overlapping confidence intervals suggest that none of the comparisons were statistically different from each other. Specifically, treatment administrator, dosage and design (control or comparison, etc.) characteristics of the studies do not appear to produce significantly different effects. Conclusions & Implications The results of this meta-analysis provide strong support for explicit joint attention interventions for young children with ASD; however, it remains unclear which children with ASD respond to which type of intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The ability to make inferences plays a crucial role in reading comprehension and the educational success of school-aged children. However, it starts to unfold much earlier than school entry and literacy. Given that it is likely to be targeted in speech language therapy, it would be useful for clinicians to have access to information about a developmental sequence of inferential comprehension. Yet, at this time, there is no clear proposition of the way in which this ability develops in young children prior to school entry. Aims To reduce the knowledge gap with regards to inferential comprehension in young children by conducting a scoping review of the literature. The two objectives of this research are: (1) to describe typically developing children's comprehension of causal inferences targeting elements of story grammar, with the goal of proposing milestones in the development of this ability; and (2) to highlight key elements of the methodology used to gather this information in a paediatric population. Methods & Procedures A total of 16 studies from six databases that met the inclusion criteria were qualitatively analysed in the context of a scoping review. This methodological approach was used to identify common themes and gaps in the knowledge base to achieve the intended objectives. Main Contribution Results permit the description of key elements in the development of six types of causal inference targeting elements of story grammar in children between 3 and 6 years old. Results also demonstrate the various methods used to assess this ability in young children and highlight particularly interesting procedures for use with this younger population. Conclusions These findings point to the need for additional studies to understand this ability better and to develop strategies to stimulate an evidence-based developmental sequence in children from an early age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background A diverse literature addresses elements of conversation therapy in aphasia including intervention rooted in conversation analysis, partner training, group therapy and behavioural intervention. Currently there is no resource for clinicians or researchers that defines and organizes this information into a coherent synopsis describing various conversation therapy practices. Aims To organize information from varied sources into a descriptive overview of conversation therapy for aphasia. Methods & Procedures Academic search engines were employed to identify research articles published between 1950 and September 2013 reporting on conversation therapy for aphasia. Thirty articles met criteria for review and were identified as primary sources for the qualitative review. Using qualitative methodology, relevant data were extracted from articles and categories were identified to create a descriptive taxonomy of conversation therapy for aphasia. Main Contribution Conversation interventions were divided into descriptive categories including: treatment participants (person with aphasia, partner, dyad), primary guiding orientation (conversation analysis, social model, behavioural, relationship centred), service delivery (individual, group), focus of intervention (generic/individualized; problem/solution oriented; compensatory), training methods (explicit/implicit; external/embedded), activities or tasks, and outcomes measured. Finally, articles were categorized by research design. There was marked variation in conversation therapy approaches and outcome measures reported and a notable gap in information about one-on-one conversation therapy for individuals with aphasia. Conclusions & Implications This review provides a description of various conversation therapy approaches and identified gaps in the existing literature. Valid measures of natural conversation, research on one-on-one conversation approaches for individuals with aphasia, and a systematic body of evidence consisting of high quality research are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]