Assessment and Outcome Measures for Aboriginal Australians with Communication Disorders

Abstract

This paper reflects on issues surrounding clinical assessment and outcome measures with Aboriginal clients with communication disorders. The paper situates speechlanguage pathology assessment practices within a broader context of clinical assessment related to Aboriginal peoples accessing health services generally, and discusses what “assessment” could look like with a better understanding regarding an Aboriginal worldview, and incorporating notions of cultural security. It critically evaluates current measures used in speechlanguage pathology practice, their purpose, and processes involved in their application. Finally, the authors draw on their own clinical and research experiences to suggest ways of modifying existing tools if necessary, and using new methods to further the development of culturally appropriate and secure assessment practices within speechlanguage pathology.

Keywords:

• Aboriginal English
• Assessment
• Cultural Security
• Indigenous
• Speech-Language Pathology

Acknowledgment

We would like to acknowledge Carol Ryder, Tutors and Mums (Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY), Midland, WA) for their input to this paper and support of speech pathology.

Notes

1 As an Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal team of authors (the latter have worked closely with Aboriginal peoples in Western Australia) we are writing this paper with Aboriginal Australians in mind, hence will use the term “Aboriginal” Australian/client/ families throughout. We do not include specific reference to Torres Strait Islander peoples here out of respect to their potentially different perspectives, but also do not wish to exclude Torres Strait Islander clients and their families from consideration of similar issues relating to their participation in speech-language pathology practice and services.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Elizabeth Armstrong

Elizabeth Armstrong (@ProfBArmstrong Foundation Chair in Speech Pathology at Edith Cowan University.

Ann Carmody

Ann Carmody is a lecturer at Edith Cowan University and speech-language pathology private practitioner.

Alice Claire Robins

Alice Claire Robins is a proud Yuin woman and a speech-language pathologist in Monash Health.

Tara Lewis

Tara Lewis is an Iman woman from Central Queensland and a speech-language pathologist at the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, and a PhD candidate at University of Queensland.