International Outreach in SpeechLanguage Pathology and Audiology

1
International Outreach in Speech-Language
Pathology and Audiology

• Katherine Wilkinson, B.A.
• Amy Skinder-Meredith, Ph.D. Washington State
  University

2
Background and Purpose

• With the continued increase in cultural diversity
  within the United States it is has become an
  important focus of ASHA and its professionals to
  become more culturally competent.
• In 2004, ASHAs Legislative Counsel approved a
  strategic plan that outlined three major
  categories that would help ASHA, professionals,
  universities, and students develop and involve
  themselves on a more global level (Shill
  Dublinskie, 2005).
• Recently, there has been an increase in
  speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and
  audiologists designing and participating with
  international outreach and development.
• The wheels of change are turning, and yet despite
  the progress, there is little research or
  resources available to guide these professionals
  in this type of work.
• The purpose of this study is to examine the
  experiences of SLPs and audiologists who have
  been involved in international outreach and
  development.

3
Method

• Participants
• Eleven SLPs and three audiologists participated
  in this study.
• Each professional had previous experience with
  international outreach and development.
• Participants had traveled to China, Malaysia, New
  Zealand, Thailand, the Gaza Strip, Bolivia,
  Cambodia, Honduras, Nicaragua, South Africa,
  Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Nepal, Mexico,
  Australia, Jordan, Vietnam, Turkey, Chile,
  Russia, Singapore, Peru, and India. .
• Various educational backgrounds, specialties
  within the field, as well as experience within
  the fields were represented by this sample.
• Procedures
• Participants were obtained through current
  literature, positions in international
  organizations and through personal contacts.
  Interviews were conducted face-to-face or over
  the phone. All respondents were asked the
  following questions
• 1. Tell me about your experience with
  international outreach.
• 2. Tell me how you got started.
• 3. Tell me about your successes and
  achievements.
• 4. Tell me about any obstacles you came across.
• 5. Tell me what the benefits are for you, the
  population you were serving, and the fields of
  speech-language pathology and audiology.
• Respondents were allowed to give any additional
  information they felt was relevant.

4
Results

• 1. Tell me about your experiences with
  international outreach and development.
• Professionals and students educated and trained
  caregivers, hospital staff, medical students,
  orphanage workers, and teachers.
• The population being served included those with
  hearing and visual impairments, developmental and
  language delays, as well as individuals with
  cleft palate and/or lip.
• Many participants traveled with or were funded by
  volunteer organizations such as operation smile,
  VSO, Earth Speak, and university programs across
  the country.
• 58 of this sample had participated in 10 or more
  experiences.
• 2. Tell me about how you got started with
  international outreach and development.
• 58 of the participants involved were initially
  contacted by another professional within their
  field, or by an organization such as Operation
  Smile to participate within volunteer programs.
• The other 42 were inspired by personal interests
  including 3 professionals who had adopted
  children from the country they participated in.
• To get started many suggested
• Educate yourself about the cultural attitudes
  towards child rearing, communication,
  communication disorders, and the language.
• Have informal tools ready for assessment and
  treatment.
• Try and make a site visit prior to your outreach
  mission.
• Develop relationships with local professionals
  prior to your trip.

5
Results

• Figure 1. The amount of respondents who
  participated in a given number of international
  outreach/development experiences.

6
Results

• Figure 2. The number of times each continent had
  been visited by the respondents.

7
Results

• Table 1. Comparison of successes and obstacles
  reported by participants.

8
Conclusions

• Conclusions/Discussion
• Two groups emerged
• Three respondents worked to change foreign
  government policy, create delegations and sit on
  committees discussing with other disciplines
  about international issues surrounding
  speech-language pathology and audiology.
• Eleven respondents provided hands-on services,
  educated caregivers, hospital and orphanage
  staff, and lectured in universities helping to
  establish programs in speech pathology and
  audiology in countries without either profession.
  
• The three benefits most often discussed by the
  participants included
• understanding of how ones actions are seen by an
  individual of a different culture, and how ones
  actions affect others.
• providing services, as well as the development of
  the profession within foreign countries.
• helping our professionals evolve to be more
  knowledgeable and global.

9
Research Implications

• Research Implications
• Participants are hopeful that more organizations,
  professionals, and students will become involved
  with international outreach and development.
  However, They caution others to be conscious of
  how their presence affects the population they
  are serving. Consistency, follow-up, and helping
  a country establish their own profession will
  benefit the country more than a single outreach
  visit.
• More resources are needed to assist SLPs and
  audiologists implement best practice when doing
  international outreach and development. To our
  knowledge The International Directory for
  Communication Disorders (Bleile, 2006) was the
  only published guide to address this need and it
  is currently out of print, however a website is
  still available.

10
References

• Resources
• Bebout, L. Arthur, B. (1992). Cross-cultural
  attitudes toward speech disorders. Journal of
  Speech and Hearing Research, 35. 45-52.
• Bleile, K. (2006). The international directory of
  communication disorders. Retrieved November 17,
  2008, from http//www.comdisinternational.com/purp
  
• Bleile, K.M., Ireland, L., Kiel, T. (2006). The
  professions around the world New web- based
  directory goes global. The ASHA Leader, 11(17),
  8-9, 26-27.
• Chen, H.C., Maroonroge, S., Ducote, C., Logan,
  R. (2006). The many faces of humanitarian work
  in speech-language pathology and audiology.
  Presented at the American Speech Hearing
  Language Association national convention in
  Miami, Florida.
• Schill, M.J., Dublinske, S. (2005). Charting
  the course ahead ASHAs strategic plan outlines
  future direction of the Association. The ASHA
  Leader, pp. 3, 27.