A comparison of three approaches to delivering a speech and language therapy service to people with learning disabilities

Abstract

Abstracts This research aimed to compare three different approaches to delivering a speech and language therapy service to people with learning disabilities, in order to make recommendations for future service delivery. The three approaches all involved working with key communication partners in the environment. They were: (i) working directly on a one‐to‐one basis with the person and partner; (ii) working indirectly by providing teaching for partners; and (iii) a combination of these two approaches. A teaching course called ‘Talkabout’ was used. Talkabout aims for staff to reach a recognised level of knowledge and competence in communication skills, thus facilitating the communication skills of their service users. The results indicated that whilst communication changed in all three approaches, overall changes were greater in the combination approach. Only the combination approach demonstrated statistically significant differences following intervention, in terms of staff initiations, service user responses, and their use of additional modalities. Le but de cette recherche a été de comparer trois méthodes différentes pour assurer un service orthophonique à des gens souffrant de difficultés d'apprentissage, afin de faire des recommendations pour l'avenir des services assurés. Les trois méthodes utilisent l'établissement de liens avec des partenaires essentiels de communication dans l'entourage. Elles consistent (i) à travailler directement sur une base individuelle avec la personne et le partenaire; (ii) à travailler indirectement afin d'apporter un ensignement au partenaire; (iii) en une combinaison de ces deux méthodes. L'on a utilisé un cours d'enseignement appelé le Talkabout. Le but du Talkabout est d'amener le personnel à un niveau reconnu de connaissances et de compétences dans les capacités de communication, afin de faciliter les capacités de communication des utilisateurs de leurs services. Les résultats indiquent que même si la communication changeait dans toutes les méthodes de combination. Cette dernière était la seule à montrer des différences statistiquement significatives après intervention, en ce qui concernait l'initiation du personnel, les réactions des utilisateurs des services, et leur utilisation de modalités supplémentaires. Ziel dieser Untersuchung war der Vergleich dreier Ansätze zur Sprachtherapie für Lernbehinderte, um Empfehlungen für ein zukuunftiges Therapieangebot machen zu können. Alle drei Ansätze basierten auf der Zusammenarbeit mit wichtigen Kommunikationspartnern der betroffenen Personen, nämlich (i) die direkte Zusammenarbeit mit der Person und ihrem Kommunikationspartner, (ii) der indirekte Ansatz mit einem Lehrangebot für den Partner, (iii) die Kombination von (i) und (ii). Ein Lehrerkurs Talkabout wurde eingesetzt. Mit Talkabout soll das Lehrpersonal einen bestimmten Kenntnisstand sowie eine bestimmtes Niveau kommunikativer Kompetenz erreichen und dabei die Kommunikationsfähigkeit ihrer Patienten fördern. Die Ergebnisse zeigten, daß obwohl das Kommunikationsniveau bei allen ...

The Kirkpatrick model: A useful tool for evaluating training outcomes

“…These studies include staff training programs (Chatterton, 1999;Dobson et al, 2002;McLeod, Houston, & Seyfort, 1996;Money, 1997), activity scheduling, direct skill teaching to residents (Sigafoos et al, 2004), and staff management procedures (Seys & Duker, 1993;Suda & Miltenberger, 1993).…”

“…Concurrent improvements in resident behaviours were not observed. Money (1997) compared the effectiveness of three different approaches to the delivery of speech and language therapy; namely (a) direct individual therapy given to the client and his/her communication partner; (b) attendance by communication partner at a training program; and (c) a combination of approaches where the communication partner attended training and received individual therapy input. Money's training program did not result in any significant changes in the quantity of interactions; there was, however, a reported change in staff initiations where staff used more open questions and fewer statements.…”

“…Level 3 -behaviour Money (1997) To train 20 staff members in one of 3 models of speech therapy service delivery:…”

A Communication Training Programme for Residential Staff Working with Adults with Challenging Behaviour: Pilot Data on Intervention Effects

“…behaviour management, development of a range of AAC systems, monitoring of communication outcomes). Some researchers have reported successful outcomes using approaches that involved a combination of direct treatment and training (Money 1997) or ongoing consultation (Taylor et al. 1996).…”

Problem solving in small multidisciplinary teams: a means of improving the quality of the communication environment for people with profound learning disability

“…Eventually, when the visitor felt enough confidence, s/he began to work within the group themselves, and the staff monitored their progress and gave support and advice. Several authors have stated that modelling is not an effective method of training because the amount of time for the required level of supervision is rarely available ( Cullen 1988; Money 1997). It was also apparent that some staff were more adept at sharing information about communication with the visitors.…”