RESEARCHERS at Charles Sturt University are involved in a world-first study that will inform best practice while children wait for individualised speech pathology services.
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Bathurst-based Professor of speech and language acquisition Sharynne McLeod and PhD student Ms Nicole McGill will work with three other researchers and five partner organisations to determine the effectiveness of “advice versus device” while children are waiting for speech pathology services.
Professor McLeod said the NSW Health Clinical Excellence Commission had indicated that access to services, including availability of specialist services such as speech pathology, was one of their major areas of complaint from patients.
“Until the availability of speech pathology services meet demand, it is important to provide appropriate care while children are waiting for these services,” Professor McLeod said.
“Over many years, speech pathologists have been providing advice regarding speech and language stimulation for parents and children while waiting for direct intervention.
“In this information-rich age, parents also turn to the internet, using devices to support their child.
“But we don’t know how effective this is, so the outcome of this study will inform best practice regarding appropriate care while waiting for face-to-face speech pathology services.”
The project, titled Waiting For Speech Pathology: Device Versus Advice, will receive NSW Health funding from Round 2 of the Translational Research Grants Scheme (TRGS), starting in early July.
The researchers will conduct their study at Bathurst Community Health Centre and Dubbo Community Health Centre.
