Pediatric Dysphagia: A Rise in Preterm Infants and a Need for More Formal Training for Speech-Language Pathologists

Authors

  • Emily Zimmerman Northeastern University

Keywords:

Speech-language pathologist, Neonatal intensive care unit, Pediatric dysphagia, Education

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to estimate how many master’s programs in speech-language pathology (SLP) offer a course in pediatric dysphagia and to determine if taking this course improves how prepared SLPs are to work with this population.

Methods: One hundred SLP master’s programs were examined to determine if they offered a pediatric dysphagia course. Next, a pediatric dysphagia survey was sent out to SLPs to examine three main questions: 1) if their master’s program offered a pediatric dysphagia course, 2) if they completed the course, and 3) how prepared they felt to work with this population.

Results: Of the 100 SLP master’s programs contacted, only 21% of the SLP master’s programs offered a pediatric dysphagia course. A majority (64.50%) of SLPs who did not completed a pediatric dysphagia course reported feeling unprepared to work with this population.

Conclusions: There should be an increased focus on adding pediatric dysphagia courses into SLP master’s programs in an effort to increase the level of preparedness for SLPs and to improve patient outcomes.

Downloads

Published

2016-03-31

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2016)

Section

Articles

License

Policy for Journals/Articles with Open Access

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
    1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

  1. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post links to their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work

Policy for Journals / Manuscript with Paid Access

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
    1. Publisher retain copyright .

  1. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post links to their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work .