Treatment intensity in everyday clinical management of speech sound disorders in Hong Kong

Abstract

Much evidence supports the efficacy of different treatment approaches for speech sound disorders (SSD) in children. Minimal research in the field has been conducted using treatment intensity as a research variable. This study examined the current practice of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in Hong Kong regarding the treatment intensity prescribed to children with SSD and potential factors that were associated with the intensity. Participants were 102 SLPs working in different settings in Hong Kong who completed an online questionnaire. SLPs who had a heavier caseload offered significantly less frequent and shorter treatment duration to clients with SSD. Public and private settings differed significantly in treatment duration. Treatment approaches and clinicians’ consideration about a client's conditions did not affect treatment intensity. SLPs in Hong Kong do not plan treatment duration and frequency in an evidence-based direction because of their heavy workloads and the dearth of research evidence on treatment intensity to guide their clinical practice.

Keywords::

• Treatment intensity
• survey
• speech sound disorders
• clinical practice
• questionnaire
• caseload

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all SLPs who took part in the study and the Hong Kong Association of Speech Therapists for their assistance in distributing the survey.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.