Current practices of Malaysian speech-language pathologists working with dysarthria

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigated the practice patterns used by Malaysian speech-language pathologists (SLPs) with patients with dysarthria, identified challenges perceived by SLPs and explored strategies to address perceived barriers for improving dysarthria management.

Method: Two studies were conducted. Study 1 disseminated a 30-item survey questionnaire electronically via google link to SLPs in the Malaysian Speech-Language-Hearing Association through e-mail lists. Responses were analysed using descriptive statistics. In Study 2, semi-structured interviews of twelve SLPs who managed patients with dysarthria were conducted. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using the thematic analysis method.

Result: Three major themes and ten sub-themes emerged from the interviews, including “assessment and treatment practices”, “challenges”, and “overcoming challenges”. SLPs’ practice of assessment and treatment of dysarthria were predominantly impairment-based. Respondents (64%) who never used standardised assessment tools valued textbooks more as sources of evidence and had a lower level of confidence in their knowledge about dysarthria compared to those who used standardised tools.

Conclusion: Focus now needs to be on the education needs of our SLPs, on both the university training and continuing education levels, for direction of the development of professional training courses. Ongoing research and public awareness are required to guide clinical management decisions.

Keywords:

• dysarthria
• speech-language pathologists
• practice
• management
• service delivery

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

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