Background: Cognitive communication disorder (CCD) following traumatic brain injury (TBI) is well documented and these communication problems impede successful re-integration into community living. While there is growing evidence for intervention to both detect and treat the impact of these deficits across the rehabilitation continuum, there are…

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) strategies benefit learners with complex communication needs (CCN) by allowing them to participate, interact and learn. AAC is realised in the South African Education policy; however, research indicates that many teachers still have limited AAC knowledge. With this study we aimed to describe the…

Friendships and social relationships are central to wellbeing but the friendships of those with complex needs are often ignored. This study explored the friendships and social relationships of students with complex communication needs (CCN) in and outside of special school settings, to understand how they view and experience them. There were 20…

For children with autism or other complex communication needs (CCN), access to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems can increase opportunities to effectively participate in many aspects of daily life. The use of AAC can enhance communication, language, and learning for children with CCN (Hidecker, 2020), and allows for…

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Code of Ethics (2023) requires all practitioners to uphold the welfare of others without discrimination. Graduate programs in communication sciences and disorders, therefore, must guide future clinicians to apply theoretical knowledge to clinical practice equitably and inclusively. This…

Purpose: While the significance of emotional intelligence (EI) for health care providers has been recognized in various health care fields, its importance is not fully understood in the discipline of communication sciences and disorders (CSD). The purpose of this study was to investigate the perspectives on EI among students, practitioners, and…

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) has been used by patients with acquired expressive communication disorders as an alternative to natural speech. The use of symbols to express pain, which is intangible, is challenging because designing a series of comprehensible symbols to represent personal experiences such as pain is not…

This study assessed implementation of the Computer-based Instrument for Low-motor Language Testing (C-BiLLT). The C-BiLLT is an accessible language comprehension assessment tool originally developed for children with cerebral palsy and complex communication needs. The purpose of the current study was to understand the clinical contexts in which…

Background: There is a growing body of literature that indicates positive outcomes of group treatment approaches to intervention for communication difficulties in chronic traumatic brain injury (TBI). The published research to date examines face-to-face group intervention. Aim: This study draws on one of these approaches, 'Improving Natural Social…

Purpose: Speech and language disorders can negatively affect preschool children's communicative participation skills. Focus on the Outcomes of Communication Under Six-34 (FOCUS-34) is a valid and reliable scale that evaluates communicative participation in preschool children with speech and language disorders. This study aimed to establish the…

Background: Functional Communication Disorders (FCDs) are one specific presentation of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). FND is characterised by neurological symptoms, such as sensory and motor symptoms, which are not explained by neurological disease. Speech and language therapists (SLTs) have expertise in managing communication disorders,…

Background: Communication disabilities, such as primary progressive aphasia (PPA), impact family members as well as the individuals with the condition. To provide adequate communication care to people with PPA (PwPPA) and their family members, it is crucial to understand the communication needs from the family members' perspectives. To date,…

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a cross-cultural clinical experience in the Dominican Republic on communication disorders graduate students. Ethical practice requires an awareness and understanding of one's own perspectives and values and beliefs and awareness of cultural differences that arise when providing cross-cultural…

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions (e.g., face mask wearing and social distancing) on individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (D/HH). The study aimed to describe perceptions of challenges and valued resources to inform efforts to mitigate negative consequences of the pandemic. A…

This systematic review evaluated the effect of speech interventions with the addition of speech generating devices on vocalizations of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and complex communication needs. This review synthesized information across 18 studies published in the past three decades (1990-2023) with the primary focus on the…