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ERIC Number: EJ1464118
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Mar
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1368-2822
EISSN: EISSN-1460-6984
Available Date: 2025-02-20
The Clinical Practice of Speech and Language Therapists with Preschool-Age Children with Syntactic Impairment
Mafalda Azevedo1; Marisa Lousada1,2; Alexandrina Martins2,3
International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, v60 n2 e70012 2025
Background: Children with syntactic impairment associated with autism spectrum disorder and developmental language disorder benefit from speech and language therapy intervention. Despite that, few studies focus on the clinical practice of the speech and language therapist (SLT). Aim: The aim of the study is to explore the clinical practice of SLTs with preschool-age children with syntactic impairment. Methods & Procedures: A cross-sectional survey was carried out in Portugal, using a questionnaire designed specifically for this study. The survey is composed of 109 questions divided into eight sections. A total of 357 participants responded, representing 10% of the total population of SLTs in Portugal. Outcomes & Results: Considering the academic background, 46% of SLTs held a master's degree and only 19% attended complementary training in syntax. Regarding professional experience, 92% of SLTs work with preschool-age children with syntactic impairment. Between 89% and 91% of the SLTs report that they have never used any specific program, method or approach for syntactic intervention. Over 40% of SLTs report not feeling confident in assessing syntactic skills, while 43% report not feeling confident in intervening. Between 92% and 98% of SLTs report the need to obtain more academic knowledge and practical training. Conclusions & Implications: In Portugal, there seems to be a lack of scientific evidence regarding the procedures used in the clinical practice of SLTs in preschool-age children with syntactic impairment. This fact may relate to the need felt by SLTs for more academic and practical training. The current findings highlight the need to address training in syntactic disorder within graduate and postgraduate programs.
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Portugal
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1RISE-Health, School of Health, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal; 2School of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal; 3Center of Linguistics of the University of Lisbon, University of Lisbon, Alameda da Universidade, Lisbon, Portugal