A scoping review of qualitative studies on parents’ perspectives on speech, language, and communication interventions

Abstract

Purpose

This scoping review synthesized existing qualitative studies to provide conceptual clarity to “parents’ perspectives” in speech, language, and communication interventions for children.

Methods

Peer-reviewed articles published between January 2009 and June 2019 were reviewed in accordance with the steps recommended by Arksey and O’Malley. In total, 1883 unique records were screened, and 40 studies met inclusion criteria. Inductive content analysis was used to analyze the research questions and major themes reported in studies.

Results

The included studies were conducted across geographical regions and included parents of children of different ages and clinical diagnoses. Eight aspects of parents’ perspectives were identified: access, decision making, implementation, relationship, roles, impact, expectations, and general experience. In addition, a subset of studies explored parents’ opinions regarding technologies used in therapy.

Conclusions

Findings from this review suggest that parents’ perspectives have been explored across a range of geographical locations on interventions for various clinical populations. The identified categories provide some conceptual clarity for clinicians and for future research on this topic. Future studies should (i) better adhere to qualitative study reporting standards; (ii) explore parents’ perspectives regarding the context of speech language therapy; and (iii) include all parents’ perspectives in speech and language interventions.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• Parents’ perspectives in communication interventions are complex and multifaceted.

• Clinicians and researchers can consider parents’ perspectives using the eight, broad thematic categories identified in this scoping review.

Keywords:

• Interventions
• rehabilitation
• speech-language therapy
• early intervention
• childhood

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge Marika Robillard, Dominie Yu, Jessica Chan, Anna Ding, and Victoria Leung for their help in database search, article screening and data extraction.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

E.K. was supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Postdoctoral Fellowship award.