Chapter 1: Introduction to Speech and Language Therapy

Question 1

What is SLT?

Answer 1

Health discipline responsible for management of children and adults with communication and swallowing disorders.

Question 2

What are the 7 roles of an SLT?

Answer 2

1. Assessment
2. Diagnosis
3. Treatment
4. Education
5. Advocacy
6. Research
7. Mentoring

Question 3

What is the SLT role of assessment?

Answer 3

Use a range of clinical tools to assess speech, language, voice, fluency and swallowing.

Question 4

What is the SLT role of diagnosis?

Answer 4

Use the results of assessment to give a diagnosis of a communication/swallowing disorder.

Question 5

What is the SLT role of treatment?

Answer 5

Interventions given to achieve measurable gains in SLT.

Where improvement isn’t possible - use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Question 6

What is the SLT role of education?

Answer 6

Educating clients, families, carers and other healthcare professionals.
E.g. dysphonia (voice disorders) - carers may require education in ACC.

Question 7

What is the SLT role of advocacy?

Answer 7

Advocating SLT at a local, regional and national level.

Question 8

What is the SLT role of research?

Answer 8

Undertaking clinical research.

Question 9

What is the SLT role of mentoring?

Answer 9

Duty to mentor less experienced SLTs.

Question 10

What are the three misconceptions of SLT?

Answer 10

1. Women only
2. Children only
3. Only concerned with accent and elocution improvement.

Question 11

What are the six impacts of communication and swallowing disorders? EXAMPLES

Answer 11

1. Psychological e.g. depression
2. Social e.g. reduced friendships
3. Behavioural e.g. aggression
4. Vocational impact e.g. limited occupations
5. Academic e.g. reduced qualifications
6. Forensic impact e.g. brought into contact with the criminal justice system.

Question 12

What does a primary language impairment mean? EXAMPLE

Answer 12

Language that has not been impaired as a consequence of others factors.
E.g. pragmatic language impairment.

Question 13

What does a secondary language impairment mean? EXAMPLE

Answer 13

Cognitive and linguistic factors account for a language disorder.
E.g. TBI.

Question 14

What four distinctions help SLTs identify disorders?

Answer 14

1. Developmental VS acquired communication disorders.
2. Receptive VS expressive language disorders.
3. Speech VS language disorders.
4. Primary VS secondary language disorders.

Question 15

What is a developmental communication disorder?

Answer 15

A communication disorder that has been onset during the developmental period.

Question 16

What is an acquired developed communication disorder?

Answer 16

Speech and language skills have already been acquired, so the communication disorder has been acquired in nature.

Question 17

What is an expressive language disorder?

Answer 17

The expression of language is impaired.

Question 18

What is a receptive language disorder?

Answer 18

Understanding of language is impaired.

Question 19

What is a speech disorder?

Answer 19

Motor or non-symbolic aspects of communication are impaired.

Question 20

What is a language disorder?

Answer 20

Symbolic aspects of communication are impaired.

Question 21

Why are carers important for SLT? 5

Answer 21

1. Source of information re. client.
2. Can implement interventions at home.
3. Carers can be directly targeted as a result of an intervention.
4. May need to be trained in specialist equipment.
5. Can provide emotional support.

Question 22

Why is SLT an important public health role? 4 REASONS

Answer 22

1. Interventions can reduce psychological distress.
2. Can improve economic and social opportunities.
3. Reduction of re-offenders upon receiving interventions.
4. Vital for the early years.