It is estimated that approximately 97 million people in the world have complex communication needs and may benefit from alternative and augmentative communication (AAC). Although AAC is considered an evidenced-based intervention, device abandonment remains common, and researchers have attempted to analyze the causes of people abandoning devices.…

Background: The Communicative Participation Item Bank (CPIB) is a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) designed to measure the extent of interference, or difficulty, experienced by adults with communication disorders participating in their day-to-day communication activities. To date, there is limited evidence regarding sensitivity of the CPIB…

The aim of this pilot study was to explore the feasibility and language outcomes of coaching parents to implement an aided language stimulation intervention using Pragmatic Organisation Dynamic Display (PODD) communication books. Two parent--child dyads, with children aged 4 years 6 months and 4 years 8 months participated in a home-based…

Background: Social media is increasingly used by young people, including those with communication disability. To date, though, little is known about how speech-language therapists (SLTs) support the social media use of young people with communication disability. Aims: To explore what services SLTs provide to facilitate the social media use of…

Background: Eighty-five percent of medical research goes to waste, partly because it is not appropriately communicated to stakeholders. This represents a critical issue for the research community, especially because individuals who are impacted by research should be able to readily access that research. Making research findings accessible to key…

The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of communication disorders on family members of people with Parkinson's disease (PD) through the lens of third-party disability. Nine community-dwelling family members who live with people with PD participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were collected and analyzed using the qualitative…

Clinical Question: Do caregivers of young children with communication disorders or children with delays/deficits in social-communication skills who participate in training and coaching on communication strategies via telepractice compared to those who participate in training and coaching on communication strategies in person show enhanced…

To be fully prepared to work within an increasingly diverse society, CSD students need to learn more about oppression, racism, equity and inclusion in addition to learning about cultural differences. In this article, a model of Anti-Oppressive Practice (AOP) developed as an integral part of a CSD graduate education curriculum is presented. Rooted…

Purpose: Chromosome 16p11.2 deletion syndrome (OMIM #611913) is a rare genetic condition resulting from the partial deletion of approximately 35 genes located at Chromosome 16. Affected people exhibit a variable clinical profile, featuring mild dysmorphisms, motor problems, developmental delay, mild intellectual disability (ID), socialization…

Purpose: Understanding others' mental states including thoughts (cognitive theory of mind [ToM]) and feelings (affective ToM) is an important component of communication, particularly for individuals with communication challenges. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are critical members of the team that supports these individuals; however, little…

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the feasibility of a telepractice communication partner intervention for children who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and their parents. Method: Five children (aged 3;4-12;9 [years;months]) with severe expressive communication impairments who use AAC and their parents enrolled in a…

Clinical Question: Do children with complex communication needs show greater improvement in requesting behaviors with the Picture Exchange Communication System® (PECS®) versus a speech-generating device (SGD)? Method: Systematic Review. Sources: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Education Resources Information…

Background: Despite agreement that restrictive intervention (RI) should only be used as a last resort and for as long as required, little is known about long-term RI among individuals with a disability. This study examines long-term RI use. Method: From the Restrictive Intervention Data System dataset from Victoria, Australia, a cohort of 1,414…

Young people who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) can experience reduced social participation and continue to face challenges in developing and using communication and literacy skills for real-life contexts. Drawing on emerging research, this discussion article highlights the potential benefits and advantages of participation…

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly impacted daily life, including the educational experiences of school-age children with and without disabilities and their families who supported them. This descriptive qualitative study examined the experiences of families with children with extensive support needs and complex communication needs during the…