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Background: Descriptions of community-based speech-language therapy (SLT) dysphagia practices and services are underrepresented in the research literature, despite the prevalence of dysphagia in the community. Owing to a globally ageing population and government drives to support people to remain living at home rather than in hospital or aged care, there is a growing need for SLT services to be responsive to the needs of clients living at home in the community, referred to in this study as 'community-based clients'. Exploration of current SLT services and dysphagia care practices for this population may identify ways services can be designed and enhanced to better meet the needs of clients and carers. Aims: To explore the nature (i.e., characteristics) of dysphagia services and SLT clinical practices for adults with dysphagia living at home in the community. Methods & Procedures: Using a qualitative descriptive approach positioned within an explanatory sequential mixed methods design, this study explored SLT services and practices for adults with dysphagia living in the community to explain further and elaborate on findings from an earlier quantitative study. A total of 15 SLTs working with community-based clients with dysphagia were recruited using purposive representative sampling. Content analysis was used to explore the data. Outcomes & Results: The overarching theme of community commands a different approach and was illustrated by three subthemes that highlighted how and why a different approach to dysphagia care in the community setting was necessary: (1) skills and mindset require adaptation in the community context; (2) values and approaches are different in the community context; and (3) organizational influences impact service delivery in the community context. From the data, it is apparent that the work undertaken in the community setting differs from dysphagia care in other settings and requires adapted SLT skills, values and approaches that encompass holistic care, client autonomy and carer engagement. SLT practices are also informed by organizational influences such as policies and resourcing, which in some services were enablers, while for others these presented challenges. Conclusions & Implications: Community-based SLT services must continue to foster flexible, responsive practices by SLTs to ensure the needs of clients and carers are met now and in future.

Background: Post-spinal cord injury (SCI), individuals may exhibit mild to moderate impairments in aspects of speech influenced by impaired respiratory support. However, limited research has been conducted into the impact of these impairments on activity and participation when living in the community. Aims: To examine the nature and extent of voice and communication function in a group of individuals with cervical SCI living in the community, and to explore participant perceptions of the impact of these deficits on levels of activity and participation. Methods & Procedures: Participants included 14 individuals who had sustained a SCI above C8 level and had returned to living in the community. All completed a series of speech and voice assessments, the Voice Handicap Index, the Australian Therapy Outcome Measures Voice scale, four voice perception questions, and the General Short Form of the Communicative Participation Item Bank. Outcomes & Results: As a group, participants were found to have reduced vocal intensity and phonatory duration. Vocal quality was mildly altered in 93% and pitch control, breath support for speech, speech rate and phrase length impacted in one-quarter or more of the group. All reported impacts, though three individuals reported that their impairments had more extensive impact on communication in daily life. Conclusions & Implications: Individuals post-SCI experience mild speech and voice deficits that can have negative impacts on functional communication. The monitoring of communication function may help to identify those individuals who could benefit from additional support and intervention on return to community life.

Background: Visual biofeedback using electropalatography (EPG) has been beneficial in the treatment of some cases of lateral /s/ misarticulation. While EPG intervention is motorically based, studies have not commonly employed a motor learning approach to treatment. Furthermore, treatment success is measured primarily by change to EPG tongue-palate contact patterns and listener ratings conducted by speech-language therapists. Studies have not commonly measured articulatory change without the palate "in-situ" using acoustic analysis and non-professional listeners. Aims: To determine if an intensive treatment programme including both visual biofeedback (EPG) and traditional articulation techniques within a motor learning paradigm would result in functional improvement to /s/ articulation in an 11-year-old girl with persistent lateral misarticulation. Methods & Procedures: Treatment involved 12 sessions of therapist-delivered treatment over 4 weeks followed by a 6-week home programme. Outcomes of the treatment programme were measured primarily using naive listener ratings and acoustic analysis of /s/ spectra. Outcomes & Results: Improvements to both the perceptual and spectral characteristics of /s/ articulation occurred following the treatment programme. Conclusions: The study highlighted the benefit of an intensive approach to intervention incorporating both visual biofeedback and traditional articulation approaches. The inclusion of a 6-week structured home-programme was beneficial and resulted in consolidation of treatment gains. (Contains 3 figures and 1 table.)

Although dysphagia is a potential negative consequence of thermal burn injury, particularly if there is burn injury to the head and neck region, dysphagia management and the role of speech-language [...]

The development of motor speech impairment is a frequently reported sequela of surgery for cerebellar tumors that often resolves to normal speech within 6 months. In many of the reported [...]

Articulatory imprecision has been documented as a key perceptual feature of the dysarthria associated with childhood cerebellar tumor (CCT). As yet the underlying acoustic and physiological characteristics of motor speech [...]

Purpose: Voice and communication changes can occur following cervical spinal cord injury due to dysfunction of the respiratory and phonatory subsystems. Few studies have explored the "lived experience" of communication changes post cervical spinal cord injury. Furthermore, the impacts of these changes on community activity/participation and requirements for psychosocial adjustment have not been well-elucidated. The current study explored the experience of communication changes in non-ventilated individuals following cervical spinal cord injury, using a biopsychosocial framework. Materials and Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 community-dwelling non-ventilated individuals with cervical spinal cord injury. Thematic analysis was undertaken using an inductive approach. Themes were subsequently coded against domains of the World Health Organization International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health model, using established linking rules. Results: Four main themes were identified: (1) how communication has changed; (2) difficulties getting the message across, (3) the multifactorial impact of communication changes on everyday life; and (4) strategies/support to adjust to communication changes. Communication changes had multifaceted effects on participants' functioning, and were represented equally across the Body Functions (12 codes), Activities/Participation (12 codes), and Environmental Factors (11 codes) domains of the model. Conclusions: Individuals with cervical spinal cord injury perceive and experience meaningful changes on communication function post-injury, with salient impacts to daily-living and social participation. As a result of communication changes post-injury, individuals with cervical spinal cord injury experience several challenges across a variety of domains in daily life The current study highlights the benefit of using a biopsychosocial framework, such as The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), to consider the complex and diverse impact of communication changes on the functioning of individuals with cervical spinal cord injury, as well as the influence of environmental factors, on rehabilitation planning The current data demonstrates the need for increased involvement of speech-language pathologists as core members of the multidisciplinary team, and for acute awareness by all health professionals of the potential impact of communication changes on rehabilitation and psychosocial adjustment in individuals with cervical spinal cord injury [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Telehealth offers a solution to assist delivery of occupational therapy (OT) services for hand therapy in rural and remote locations. However, there is currently no evidence to validate this service model. The aim of this study was to examine the validity of clinical decisions made during hand therapy sessions conducted via telehealth compared to a traditional clinical model (TCM) assessment, and explore patient and clinician satisfaction. Methods Eighteen patients referred for hand therapy to a rural/remote hospital-based outpatient service were assessed simultaneously via telehealth and a TCM assessment. An allied health assistant supported data collection at the patient end. Hand function was assessed using a range of objective measures, subjective scales and patient reported information. Minimal level of percent exact agreement (PEA) between the telehealth OT (T-OT) and the TCM-OT was set at ≥80%. Results Level of agreement for all objective measures (dynamometer and pinch gauge reading, goniometer flexion and extension, circumference in millimetres) ranged between 82% and 100% PEA. High agreement (>80% PEA) was also obtained for judgements of scar and general limb function, exercise compliance, pain severity and sensitivity location, activities of daily living and global ratings of change (GROC) scores. There was 100% PEA for overall recommendations. Minimal technical issues were experienced. Patient and clinician satisfaction was high. Discussion Clinical decisions made via telehealth were comparable to the TCM and consumers were satisfied with telehealth as a service option. Telehealth offers the potential to improve access to hand therapy services for rural and remote patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Advancements in tracheostomy tube design now provide clinicians with a range of options to facilitate communication for individuals receiving ventilator assistance through a cuffed tube. Little is known about the impact of these modern design features on resistance to air flow. METHODS: We undertook a bench model test to measure pressure-flow characteristics and resistance of a range of tubes of similar outer diameter, including those enabling subglottic suction and speech. A constant inspiratory ± expiratory air flow was generated at increasing flows up to 150 L/min through each tube (with or without optional, mandatory, or interchangeable inner cannula). Driving pressures were measured, and resistance was calculated (cm H2O/L/s). RESULTS: Pressures changed with increasing flow (P < .001) and tube type (P < .001), with differing patterns of pressure change according to the type of tube (P < .001) and direction of air flow. The single-lumen reference tube encountered the lowest inspiratory and expiratory pressures compared with all double-lumen tubes (P < .001); placement of an optional inner cannula increased bidirectional tube resistance by a factor of 3. For a tube with interchangeable inner cannulas, the type of cannula altered pressure and resistance differently (P < .001); the speech cannula in particular amplified pressure-flow changes and increased tube resistance by more than a factor of 4. CONCLUSIONS: Tracheostomy tube type and inner cannula selection imposed differing pressures and resistance to air flow during inspiration and expiration. These differences may be important when selecting airway equipment or when setting parameters for monitoring, particularly for patients receiving supported ventilation or during the weaning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]